In Utah, a couple’s heartfelt journey through in vitro fertilization (IVF) culminated in the birth of quadruplets—two pairs of identical twins, a remarkable story that captured the hearts of people nationwide.
Ashley and Tyson Gardner were elated to welcome Indie, Esme, Scarlett, and Evangeline at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo. The infants, delivered via Caesarean section, had weights just over and just under 2 pounds, showing the fragile beginnings of their lives.
After an arduous eight-year battle with infertility, the Gardners turned to IVF, a process where an egg is fertilized outside the body. The couple experienced the extraordinary when both implanted eggs split, leading to Ashley carrying two sets of twins, an event with staggering odds.
Ashley, a graduate of Lone Peak, bravely carried the quadruplets to 29 weeks and 4 days, enduring 7 1/2 weeks of hospital bedrest. She became an active voice for those facing infertility, engaging with a supportive online community throughout her pregnancy.
On December 28, 2014, the family’s life changed forever with the swift birth of the girls, marking the end of ‘rest’ for Ashley and Tyson. The delivery was a significant event, with five neonatologists among the 37 people in the room, ensuring each baby received the necessary care.
By two months, all four girls were home, transforming the Gardners’ American Fork residence with their presence. Indie, Esme, Scarlett, and Evangeline became local celebrities, drawing attention and affection wherever they went.
Ashley, then 28, expressed immense gratitude for the journey and the joy of motherhood, despite the exhaustion of the initial months. She cherished every moment, every milestone, as the quadruplets grew healthier and stronger, embodying the family’s miraculous journey and the profound love that guided them through it.