Varvara and Dmitry Artamkin met during their school years and spent most of their lives together. It would seem that their relationship is ideal, but they failed to fully experience the happiness of parenthood. The firstborn of Dmitry and Varvara was born very ᴡᴇᴀᴋ and, after a month and a half, he ᴅɪᴇᴅ. After that, the woman was ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛᴇᴅ, but it was not possible to get pregnant again. One day, the couple decided on I.V.F, the result of which exceeded all expectations.
The long-awaited pregnancy surprised both the doctors and the Artamkin family. Doctors told Varvara that she was expecting five children at once. But future parents were ᴡᴀʀɴᴇᴅ that the pregnancy would be very difficult. The doctors told them that the children would not sᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴇ. The health of the mother, bearing five at once, was also under great ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛ.
The Artamkins’ joy knew no bounds: they had hoped for one child for a long time, and now they have five! The family flatly refused the proposal to make a ʀᴇᴅᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴ and leave only three ꜰᴇᴛᴜsᴇs. The argument was weighty: If the Lord gave them children, what right do they have to take their lives?
On the advice of Mark Kurtser, chief physician of the Moscow Family Planning Center, the couple began looking for doctors abroad. The Artamkin family found information about the activities of a large clinical center in Oxford, which specializes in monitoring complex pregnancies and nursing premature babies.
Dimitri and Varvara jumped at the opportunity. The couple contacted the center’s doctor, Professor Lawrence Impi. He, having assessed the situation, admitted that, in such cases, he also advises making a ʀᴇᴅᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴ. But, out of respect for the desire of the young couple, the doctor promised to do everything possible to ensure that all five babies were born. At the same time, he did not give guarantees of complete success.
At one point, kind people paid for their trip to Oxford in full, but asked not to disclose their names. Dmitry Artamkin shared: “A lot of people helped us. Whoever could… Our friends, who gave us the funds for a trip to England, did not want us to divulge their names. Other people who could not stand aside volunteered to help. Some helped with prayer. Dmitry and Varvara remained infinitely grateful to everyone who then helped them with word, deed and money: “We want to say ‘big thanks’ to everyone who helped us, and to those who met us as relatives in a country unfamiliar to us, which has now become the homeland of our five children. We are also grateful to everyone who worried and prayed for us during this difficult and disturbing time for us.”
As soon as the necessary money was found, Varvara and Dmitry immediately went to Oxford. By that time, the pregnancy was already difficult. The girl could not move on her own, her loving husband drove her in a wheelchair.
British doctors clearly understood what to do in this situation. They quickly set tactical tasks, avoiding uncertainties. Professor Impi did everything to postpone the moment of childbirth as late as possible, at least until the 25th week. The birth took place at 26 and a half weeks. All five girls were born by ᴄᴀᴇsᴀʀᴇᴀɴ sᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ. Their weight was small, from 830 to 970 g. The complex ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ was carried out by a large team of 18 doctors and nurses.
The first days of the girl’s life were spent in ɪɴᴄᴜʙᴀᴛᴏʀs. British doctors managed to get every child out. At the time of discharge, the doctors were happy with how healthy the children turned out to be.
Alexandra, Elizaveta, Tatyana, Nadezhda and Varvara returned to Russia not only with their parents – they were accompanied by a doctor. At the airport, a large and happy family was met not only by relatives and friends, but also by officials. In the same place, the Artamkins were presented with a four-room apartment in Moscow, furnished and renovated.
The girls are now 13 years old. They are ordinary children who go to the same school and develop comprehensively by attending sports clubs and learning foreign languages. Parents from an early age instill in girls a love for God – every Sunday they attend church school.
The quintuplets have different personalities and food habits too. Parents raise them surrounded by love and understanding, but the discipline in the family is iron. Mom and dad try to take into account the interests of each daughter, they even sign similar clothes by name so that only their owner gets them.
Varvara never came out of ᴍᴀᴛᴇʀɴɪᴛʏ leave – she devotes all her time to her daughters, husband and housekeeping. The father provides for the entire large family and, if possible, helps his wife around the house. Artamkins are greatly assisted by the city administration.
So, thanks to a large donation and the help of caring fellow citizens, five charming girls were born. Apparently, God wanted this miracle to happen, and at the right time he sent good people to Dmitry and Varvara. This story is clear proof that you should never despair. The main thing is to trust in the will of the Lord.
