Triplet sisters are a special surprise this Father’s Day

First-time Queensland dad Frank Cheong will have his hands full this Father’s Day, celebrating the unexpected arrival of triplet daughters at Mater Mothers’ Hospital Brisbane. 

Mr Cheong’s daughters, Hayley, Helena and Heather, were born two months early and are being cared for around-the-clock by a multidisciplinary team of specialists in Mater’s Neonatal Critical Care Unit (NCCU). 

“It’s my first Father’s Day as a dad and I am so happy that I get to start this journey with my three beautiful daughters,” Mr Cheong said. 

“I can’t wipe the smile from my face.” 

While difficult to tell them apart on sight, Mr Cheong is already discerning different personalities amongst his tiny trio. 

“I can see that Hayley and Heather are more extroverted than Helena – they cry out loudly when they are hungry, but Helena just puts her thumb in her mouth,” Mr Cheong said. 

“Two of the girls are actually identical which will make things fun in the future.” 

Hayley was first to arrive into the world on 1 August weighing 1.5kg, followed by Helena at 1.6kg and finally Heather at 1.3kg. 

Mr Cheong said his wife Kelly Lee had been on bed rest at Mater Mothers’ Hospital for three weeks to minimise the risk of complications before the girls arrived at 32 weeks into her pregnancy. 

“She was discharged when she was stable, and just five days later her waters broke at home,” Mr Cheong said. “The girls were not supposed to be here just yet! 

“We are so lucky they were born at Mater - they have received 24/7 care since they were born and are doing really well.” 

Mr Cheong and his wife will spend Father’s Day with the girls in the NCCU, celebrating their daughters’ growing strength, and plan to head home as a family in a few weeks. 

Mater Director of Neonatology Dr Pita Birch said between 70 - 80 babies would join Hayley, Helena and Heather in the NCCU on Father’s Day with dozens of dads expected to visit throughout the day.