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Three Little Birds
When Rose Geiwitz learned she was expecting triplets, she and her husband Dan started calling them their “three little birds,” inspired by a Bob Marley song. The lyric “every little thing is going to be alright” became a promise they repeated to each other as they prepared for life with three babies.
At just 23 weeks of pregnancy, Rose’s water broke unexpectedly. Within hours, she was induced, and Evelyn, Charlie, and Patrick entered the world on April 27, 2025, each weighing barely over a pound. What followed was a journey no parent can prepare for: months in the NICU, countless procedures, and the devastating loss of their son Patrick to respiratory failure at just two months old.
Through grief, fear, and uncertainty, Rose and Dan kept showing up. “The only way out is through,” they reminded each other during the hardest moments. They asked questions, advocated fiercely, and celebrated every victory their surviving babies fought for.
Charlie faced an especially complex medical path. Born at 580 grams (about 1 lb. 4 oz.), he developed a host of medical complications that affected nearly every system in his body. Charles required a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt (used to treat brain swelling due to cerebrospinal fluid buildup), a G-tube, and prolonged respiratory support. Evelyn, medically fragile herself, battled chronic lung disease and feeding challenges but progressed steadily.
After 235 days in the NICU for Charlie and 179 for Evelyn, the family finally came home. Rose left her full time job to care for the twins, and soon after, Gillette Children’s became a central part of their weekly rhythm.
Finding Support for Medical Complexity at Gillette Children’s
At Gillette Children’s, the family found a team that understood the complexities of extreme prematurity and the long-term developmental support needs that follow. Charlie began working with physical, occupational, and speech-language therapies, and consulting with physical medicine and rehabilitation physician Marshall Taniguchi, MD. Evelyn joined him in PT, OT and speech therapy, making the clinic a second home for the family: they sometimes visited two or three times each week.
Therapies quickly became a source of hope. Charlie began showing emerging motor skills, more engagement, and steady developmental progress. Evelyn weaned off supplemental oxygen and started exploring solids in speech therapy, delighting her care team with her curiosity and determination.
A Unique Challenge for OPS
One of Charlie’s most visible challenges was his acquired flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly). Because of his VP shunt, glasses, hearing aids, and breathing tube, fitting a cranial remolding orthosis (CRO) required extraordinary precision. Gillette Children’s Orthotics, Prosthetics and Seating (OPS) team — led by clinician Jenna Jasken — partnered closely with Invent Medical to create a fully customized Talee helmet for Charlie.
Invent Medical used a detailed scan of Charlie’s head to design a CRO that accommodated his shunt and other medical equipment while still guiding his skull toward a more symmetrical shape. The collaboration allowed Gillette’s team to upload progress scans and track improvements over time, ensuring the helmet adapted to Charlie’s rapid growth and unique needs.
“It was a very unique fit,” Jasken said. “But Rose was so positive and collaborative. We were all committed to giving Charlie the best chance at healthy head growth.”
Charles Geiwitz being fitted for his Talee helmet.
Resilience, Advocacy, and Hope
Despite the intensity of the past year, Rose remains grounded in gratitude and pride. “Our kids are incredibly tough and resilient,” she said. “We take inspiration from them.”
She encourages other parents facing medical complexities to speak up, ask questions, and celebrate every win. “What might seem tiny to someone else could be huge for your child. Celebrate it.”
In the twins’ nursery, the lyrics from Three Little Birds hang on the wall. It’s a reminder of the hope that carried them through the NICU and continues to guide them today. With the support of Gillette Children’s, their care teams and partners like Invent Medical, Charlie and Evelyn are writing a story defined not by their challenges, but by their strength, progress, and the unwavering love surrounding them.
Rose and Charles Geiwitz standing with clinician Jenna Jasken.
