SAUGATUCK, Mich. – A set of triplets born 15 weeks premature, around one pound each, are now thriving and graduating at the top of their class.
Baye Lee, Jenna and Allie Braschler were born at 25 weeks on October 20, 1997. All three were given a chance of survival between 50 and 70 percent. Allie and Jenna both underwent heart surgery, spending a majority of their first year in the hospital.
“Yeah we were pretty messed up,” Baye Lee said. “Instead of diapers they could have used cotton balls because we were so tiny.”
Doctors were concerned even if they did make it they would end up with a plethora of mental and physical disabilities.
After an abundance of prayer from their parents: the girls are 18-years-old, healthy, and dominating Saugatuck High School as class president, vice-president and treasurer. All three are graduating as the school’s top three scholars with GPA's above 4.0. The girls tell FOX 17 their parents instilled the importance of working hard at a young age.
“Our brother was the top of their class so I feel like that was also some pressure,” Jenna said.
Tuesday night, the girls carried home a combined 21 academic awards and more than $20,000 in scholarships at the school’s academic award ceremony. After defying the odds, the girls are now ready to write their next chapter in life.
Bay Lee will study neonatal nursing at Loyola University. Allie will attend Notre Dame studying either business or pre-law. Jenna plans on attending Olivet College and will study actuary science.
