The story of Claire, Paul and their family from England is breathtaking and nearly impossible to believe. A television station interviewed them and set the scene of their lives for the audience to imagine.
In 2000 Claire Evans was just 19 years old, when she experience a dizzy spell one morning. Her muscles quivered and she felt really weak. Because she felt healthy and fit otherwise, it was a while before she decided to go for a check-up.
At the doctor, she was given a shocking diagnosis: Claire suffers from Multiple Sclerosis. This disease affects the central nervous system and is incurable. If she has a relapse, the limbs can be paralyzed and the skin can become numb. Claire was devastated. She thought that because of her illness, she would never lead a normal life. She really wanted to find a nice partner and start a family.
Against all her fears, her body responded well to medication and she's had no further relapses. Since then, she's also gotten to know her work colleague, Paul.
For Paul and Claire it was love at first sight! With him she could almost forget her illness completely and plan a life by his side. After 4 years of being together, Claire gave birth to their son, Harry. Everything appeared perfect, and even though pregnancies for people with MS are usually very exhausting, she felt completely healthy.
But then Claire had another MS relapse. The right side of her body often feels as if its numb. She can neither clasp things nor feel.
She had to spend months in bed. Due to the cortisone that she was taking and the inability to move, she gained 33 pounds.
One night Claire wakes up in pain. She has terrible cramps in her gut and is sure: it must be another MS-relapse.
She stumbled her way to the toilet, but the pain became worse and worse. She desperately called to Paul because she was sure "that this would kill me".
When Paul arrived in the bathroom, he tried to help his girlfriend. At some point she groaned: "It feels as though I was in labor." And in fact...
...Claire gave birth to a little girl. Paul was in shock because they had no idea that Claire was pregnant. Her periods were regular every month, it seemed to be the only thing in her body that worked properly.
But before Paul had time to think about it, Claire, who was still sitting on the toilet, once again writhed in pain. This time, Paul believed it must be the placenta. But as he had a look, he recognized something unbelievable and quickly pulled it from the toilet: a second baby!
Still in shock, they confirm that both of the babies are breathing. Claire, who didn't know that she was pregnant, just delivered twin girls into the world.
At that moment the ambulance arrive and treated Claire and the babies. Once the shock wore off, all three were fine.
More incredibly - they noticed after this exciting hour: Claire can walk again. She can feel when Paul holds her hand. Their daughters, Macie and Charlie, are doing well, and so is the older brother, Harry. Claire can even drive a car again, go out and look after her family. The twins have since turned 10. We wish the family all the best for the future.
