But it quickly became clear this was an emergency. The couple were transferred by ambulance from Lower Hutt to Wellington Hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t count how many specialists, consultants and midwives came in \u2013 it was overwhelming,\u201d Francis says. \u201cThey had everything set up for prem babies \u2013 three resuscitation tables were set up, labelled Triplet 1, Triplet 2 and Triplet 3 \u2013 and said their chance of survival was 50\/50.\u201d<\/p>\n
But there was another twist \u2013 it seemed only one of the babies was trying to make an early entrance, while the other two looked content where they were. The medical team consulted a specialist in Australia to see if they could birth one while the other two remained safely inside \u2013 not something they believe had been done in Aotearoa before. <\/p>\n
Sammie was pregnant with naturally conceived \u201cspontaneous triplets\u201d. Photo \/ Hagen Hopkins<\/p>\n
The advice came back: it had been done, and it was recommended to give the other two more time to develop and grow. So the next morning, Triplet 1 made his entrance. At 8.24am on December 3, Xavier was born vaginally, weighing 675g and barely the size of his dad\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n
For the next two days, the couple were in limbo with Xavier fighting for his life outside of the womb, while his brothers were still growing inside Sammie.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had one baby in NICU and two inside me \u2013 it was crazy,\u201d Sammie recalls. <\/p>\n
Then, on December 5, Sammie went into labour again. This time, traumatised from the first birth and knowing there was risk in naturally birthing two prem babies, she opted for an emergency C-section. For safety, she needed to be put under for the delivery.<\/p>\n
At 10.10pm and 10.11pm, Maverick and Carter were born by Caesarean, one minute apart from each other and two days after their brother Xavier \u2013 an extraordinary birth story of triplets born two ways on different days. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey weren\u2019t sure how long it would take for Maverick and Carter to come after Xavier \u2013 hours, days or weeks,\u201d laughs Sammie. \u201cAt one stage, it was a possibility that we\u2019d have triplets born in different years, given it was December!\u201d <\/p>\n
The triplets spent 147 days (almost four months) in NICU, with their parents watching them face one challenge after another. There were infections, breathing problems, brain bleeds, operations, laser eye treatment, and countless scans and medications.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne would do well and get better, another would become unwell and, at times, all of them would be unwell together,\u201d shares Sammie. \u201cWe watched them turn blue a couple of times and be resuscitated. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe just had to let the professionals do what they needed to do \u2013 the boys were in the best possible hands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sammie Nonu and Francis Vaaua with their kids. Photo \/ Hagen Hopkins<\/p>\n
Francis works in housing youth and had to return to work early January, leaving Sammie to keep up with the morning rounds with the specialists and watch over their sons. However, amid the heaviness and fear, there were also moments of joy thanks to the caring NICU team.<\/p>\n
One of their nurses joked that Sammie and Francis should get married in NICU \u2013 and then she ran with the joke, sourcing a veil, decorations, cake and balloons, plus a nurse to officiate their unofficial wedding. The three boys were even wheeled out to act as their dad\u2019s groomsmen.<\/p>\n
Sammie points out it was \u201cunofficial\u201d and jokes that Francis still needs to put a ring on it. The couple met in 2024, when Francis reached out through Instagram, asking to take her out for dinner. True to his word, he drove from Wellington to her home in Hawke\u2019s Bay that next weekend and they hit it off.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt first, I thought his profile was fake because it said he did Amazing Race Australia,\u201d Sammie says. \u201cI tell everyone about that because it just tells you what kind of person he is \u2013 spontaneous, fun, a go-getter who doesn\u2019t shy away from a challenge, and that\u2019s just how he is as a dad to our boys.\u201d<\/p>\n
Francis adds, \u201cI thought she was so beautiful, and I was pretty straight up about who I was, and wanting marriage and kids. We weren\u2019t here to muck around \u2013 we were both ready to settle down and live life. When you know, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n
After almost four months in hospital, the boys were finally ready to go home \u2013 accompanied by oxygen tanks, monitors and lots of cords. <\/p>\n
Triplets: Xavier (L), Maverick (C) and Carter (R). Photo \/ Hagen Hopkins<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first night at home was just us, no emergency button, no medical professionals \u2013 I don\u2019t think we got that much sleep,\u201d Sammie says. \u201cBut we camped out in the lounge for a few weeks, so we had everything at arm\u2019s reach for feeding, changing and bathing.<\/p>\n