Defying early struggles, twin baby calves named Cleo and Clover have survived despite being born seven weeks premature on a Mesa farm. Each calf, now tipping the scales at about 30 pounds, is slowly but surely making strides in their health, according to Jamie Brotemarkle, owner of J & B Family Farms, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix.
The unexpected birth caught the Brotemarkle family off-guard, "doing my normal morning chores, and my son calls me and says, 'We have a calf,'" and then, with a rush of texts coming through, he alerted that there was not one, but two. Jamie Brotemarkle had her reservations about the calves' chances of survival, "A singleton really has a very, very low chance of making it that early, so when you add twins to the mix, it just takes that down even further," she conveyed in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix.
However, the family's dedication to nurturing Cleo and Clover seems to have turned the tides in the calves' favor, "I run back out to the playpen and my gosh, they're still here," Jamie Brotemarkle told FOX 10 Phoenix, her voice tapering into relief as she recounted the days leading up to a critical week-mark that signaled the calves might just defy the odds.
Each day introduces new victories and adoration for the Brotemarkle family, "She took three steps and fell, and that was enough to know that she was going to make it," Jamie described one of the calf's moments of perseverance; this sentiment resonates with the broader theme of hope in the face of adversity, as the calves continue to showcase their budding vitality. Though the family recognizes they cannot keep every animal born on the farm, the bond that has formed with Cleo and Clover suggests these two calves have carved a permanent spot in their hearts, according to a report by MSN Lifestyle.
