Grad twins reunited with midwife who delivered them

Jessica and Lucy Sheldon graduated after completing a BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing Degree at the University of Derby

“I didn’t expect to see her at graduation, of all places."

A mother got a major surprise at a graduation ceremony with her twin daughters when they were reunited with the midwife who helped deliver them 27 years ago.

Jessica and Lucy Sheldon were born at Derby City Hospital in 1997 with the help of midwife and now University of Derby lecturer Jayne Leverton.

The twins were receiving their nursing degrees at Derby Arena this week when their mother Tracey Sheldon recognised a familiar face.

“I suddenly recognised that one of the staff members sat on the stage was the midwife who helped me during my labour," Tracey said.

"It’s been amazing for her to meet the girls now they are all grown up,"

The twins met Ms Leverton for the first time since their birth after the ceremony.

Jessica said it was "unbelievable to know that Jayne was mum’s midwife" and described the chance meeting as "a full circle moment".

Ms Leverton, who set up the university’s midwifery programme in 2021, said it was "wonderful" to have met the twins.

"They are the future generation of healthcare professionals, and I couldn’t be more delighted to have been introduced to them all these years later," she said.

'Life's too short'

The twins' father died suddenly in 2020 and their mother said she was "incredibly proud of them" as they graduated.

Before taking up their degree in 2021, Jessica and Lucy worked as clinical apprentices and healthcare assistants at the Royal Derby Hospital.

Jessica said: “We lost our dad when we were 22 and, after working in the hospital during the pandemic, we decided we wanted to both pursue nursing together.

"It made us realise that life is too short."

Jessica now works as an A&E nurse at the Royal Derby Hospital, while her sister works at the same hospital as a general medicine ward nurse.

Lucy said: "I’m really proud of us both and we are so happy we have made it.

"Our degree was hard but we have supported each other – it was always nice to come home and be able to talk to one another about our studies.

"Knowing we had each other kept us both going."