Infant Seen In Viral ‘Hugging Twins’ Photo Passes Away From Rare Condition

One of the infants in the viral photo of twins hugging on the hospital has died Wednesday from a rare condition.

Brandy Guettler and Tommy Buchmeyer shared the photo of the 11-day-old twins on September 1, which quickly became viral on the social media site Facebook, as previously posted by US Weekly. The photo shows Mason smiling and hugging his brother Hawk, who was hooked up to tubes on the hospital bed.

Hawk had been suffering of a rare disease called congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), which Chop.Edu defines as “a condition in which a hole in the diaphragm allows abdominal organs to move into the chest, which prevents the lungs from developing normally, resulting in pulmonary hypoplasia.”

Bucchmeyer and Guettler of Florida welcomed their twin sons, Hawk and Mason, on August 18. Delivered prematurely via emergency C-section, the twins were sent to the NICU. Mason was there for a short time. Hawk, on the other hand, was diagnosed with CDH. He underwent surgery on August 30.

They have been posting updates about their twins on the internet via Facebook page Mason & Hawk.

Guettler told CBS12 that Mason seemed fussy on September 1. They consulted one of the hospital’s nurses, who suggested that they lay him down next to Hawk.

“So we laid him there and all of the sudden as soon as he felt Hawk, he reached his arm out and grabbed him and just started to smile. The two of them knew they were there for each other,” said Brandy.

When they posted the photo on Facebook, Brandy and Tommy revealed in the caption that it was the first time the twins have ever touched.

https://www.facebook.com/Mason.Hawk16/photos/a.1546446852048289.1073741829.1543457539013887/1557989144227393/?type=3&theater

“This picture was taken a 11 days after they were born, it’s the first time they have ever touched, and as soon as Mason felt Hawk he reached out for his arm and smiled this big. We thought it was time for everyone pulling for our boy to see this picture.”

As of this writing, the viral Facebook photo has reached over 124,000 likes and almost 4,000 comments from Facebook users who took the time to send their well-wishes and condolences to the couple.

After three days, it looked like Hawk would be able to pull through, as the couple wrote on Facebook that his belly was not that swollen anymore after surgery and that he’d been never been more alert in such a long time.

https://www.facebook.com/Mason.Hawk16/photos/a.1546446852048289.1073741829.1543457539013887/1561395647220076/?type=3

“We don’t want to brag but Hawk has had a good two days! His belly isn’t that swollen anymore from surgery and he’s been more alert this afternoon than he’s been in a long time. Thank You for all of your Prayers from all over the world and your encouraging comments and messages. We do read all the comments and messages and we are very appreciative of them all sorry if we don’t respond or it takes us some time to respond.”

Four days later, on Wednesday, September 7, Guettler and Buchmeyer took to Facebook again to announce that Hawk has died.

https://www.facebook.com/Mason.Hawk16/posts/1567407596618881

“Our hearts are saddened this morning as our sweet little man was called home to be with Jesus,” the couple wrote on Facebook. “He went very peacefully and we know he’s no longer suffering. Please give us some time to grieve and try to start the healing process.”

Guettler told US Weekly the emotional struggles she and Buchmeyer are facing in the wake of Hawk’s death. They have been “clinging” to Mason, who she says is bringing a “calmness” despite the emotional hurt that comes with Hawk’s passing.

“He brings a calmness,” she says. “Tommy and I just had a breakdown … and then we pulled back together and said, ‘We’re just going to have to take it day by day.’ It’s never going to be easy … but at least we have Mason to hold onto.”

[Photo by ThinkStock]