This is a rare case of natural triplets without medical intervention in the world. Happiness is simple, just by looking at the clear smiles of the children, parents can endure all the hard work. We hope that the photo series will inspire and help parents who are raising young children, especially triplets, to feel more motivated and to keep working hard on the path of caring for the babies, even when it’s difficult. This is also very sweet.

When Tom and Jackie Ochenkowski found out they were expecting a baby, they were excited and looked forward to telling their daughter Brooke that she was going to be a big sister. But at their eight-week ultrasound appointment, Jackie discovered they were getting a three-for-one deal. Connecticut photographer JoAnn Marrero said, “At that moment, Tom had just started his new business and they were busy building their new home. Jackie went alone to the doctor for her eight-week ultrasound while Tom worked tirelessly so they could be in their new home before the baby arrived. During the appointment, Jackie felt something unusual from the expression on the ultrasound technician’s face. She was surprised when the doctor told her she was having spontaneous identical triplets, an incredibly rare phenomenon.”

At 25 weeks, due to the risk of 2 anionic syndromes but only 1 placenta, Jackie had to be hospitalized for surgery under the care of a specialist. On May 18, 2016, at 32 weeks, Jackie gave birth to her triplet daughters Aubrey, Bailey, and Charlotte via cesarean section. Each baby weighed three pounds and spent two to three months in the hospital.

To document that difficult but happy time, Jackie has taken a set of sweet and poignant photos that make everyone wish and admire her happiness as a mother. Marrero said, “The most difficult thing at that time was that Jackie had to leave her 2-year-old daughter, Brooke, at home. She missed her a lot, but when she visited her mother, Brooke was very scared because her mother was full of cables. In the end, she understood and got used to it.” The babies went home on different days and weeks. Marrero photographed the moment when Jackie held all three babies for the first time. She offered her services as a volunteer a year later to celebrate their first birthday. A few months later, she took more photos of Aubrey, Bailey, and Charlotte.

The couple also expressed their happiness and gratitude to everyone who helped in the process of caring for the babies.