Newborn South Florida triplet comes home

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida triplet was deemed healthy enough to join his family, Thursday.

Doctors believe 34-year-old Coral Springs resident Andrea Temperino, the baby's mother, is the only woman in the United States with a rare autoimmune disorder to give birth to triplets.

Ashton Temperino joined his brothers Austin and Alexander, and his homecoming marks the first time all three of them are together under the same roof. "I'm relieved, very relieved that they are all finally home," Andrea said.

"This is the best New Year's you could ever imagine," said Anthony Temperino, the triplets' father. The babies survived a life-threatening pregnancy that also put their mother in jeopardy.

"My wife suffers from Myasthenia Gravis, which is a very rare autoimmune disease," said Anthony. "There are only about 400 people in the world that have it," he continued.

The disease is so rare that doctors were initially unable to diagnose the expectant mother. The Temperinos did not learn about the illness until well into Andrea's pregnancy.

"Her respiratory system had checked out, and she was really on the edge of dying," recalls Anthony, "and shortly after that she was put on a ventilator to keep her alive, because of that misdiagnosis."

The Temperinos recently started Multiple Miracles Foundation, Inc., a domestic nonprofit corporation with the goal of raising awareness and helping parents who are going through similar ordeals. For more information, go to www.multiplemiraclesfoundation.org.

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