Quads meet quads at Ohio hospital

OREGON, Ohio (AP) — Newborn quadruplets and their parents got a send-off from the hospital from another family who’s been there — a mother and her four quadruplet daughters born at the same hospital in 1990.

Before they went home Thursday from St. Charles Mercy Hospital in this Toledo, Ohio, suburb, Shannon and Antonio Hand’s three baby daughters Madison, Isabel and Olivia and their brother, Everett, received greetings and teddy bears from Lana, Lisa, Valerie and Andrea Miller.

Their mother, Marilyn Miller, 51, said the family was inspired by something similar that had been done for her.

“After I gave birth to my daughters, there was a set of quads that visited me in the hospital, and I thought that was so special and they brought me little bears,” Miller said.

She came with something for the Hand couple: advice to feed all the infants at the same time, to not get too stressed out, and to remember to laugh.

The Hands already know about dealing with one more than one baby at a time. When their foursome was born a few weeks prematurely Dec. 10, they already had twins at home about to turn 3.

But Miller clan patriarch Alan Miller, 52, the owner of a local jewelry store, said the younger parents may have no idea what they’re in for later.

“Right now, my biggest challenge is thinking about next year’s college bills,” said Miller, whose daughters turn 18 next month.