Movie News

Dennis Quaid's Twins Still in Danger

PEOPLE
Posted: 2007-11-29 13:53:27
Filed Under: Movie News
(Nov. 29) - Just 12 days after actor Dennis Quaid and his wife, Kimberly, welcomed their twins, Thomas Boone and Zoe Grace, on Nov. 8, the parents were dealing with devastating news: The babies, after being admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A., were accidentally given a dangerous overdose of a blood thinner, PEOPLE recounts in its latest cover story.

"She could barely get out three sentences," Kimberly's brother Blake Buffington says of how his sister broke the news to him. "She said they weren't sure if they were going to make it. She told me, 'The babies are fighting for their lives.' "

For Dennis, 53, and Kimberly, 36, it has been one medical nightmare after another. Within a week of being brought home to the Quaids' house in L.A., the twins were hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai due to staph infections. At the hospital on Nov. 18, they were allegedly among three patients given 1,000 times the recommended dose of heparin, a drug used to prevent IV catheters from clotting. The dosage was high enough to cause severe bleeding and death if left untreated.

"The babies are still at the hospital in intensive care," Buffington said on Nov. 27. "We're hoping they get to come home from the hospital, but we don't know how long that will be. Kimberly has gotten to hold them a few times, but they are on monitors and IVs, so it's hard. You have these fragile little kids going through a medical crisis they absolutely did not need to go through."

For more on this story, including what long-term effects may exist and how the Quaids are coping, pick up this week's PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday

2007-11-29 10:52:39
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Recent Comments

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1812 comments

Joiavs 07:18:35 AM Dec 01 2007

Its so easy to pass blame and reasons behind such a tragic event.........lets all just pray for the tiny ones and their parents!

Kozush 09:51:00 PM Nov 30 2007

At any rate, I wish nothing but the best for those babies and am hoping they come out of it, which is true for any baby, celebrity or not! It's horrible to see sick and injured children and hats off to all the nurses and doctors and technicians who take care of them on a day to day basis.

Kozush 09:49:26 PM Nov 30 2007

I wanted to say thank you to Iristattoo and other medical personnel who have chimed in and explained how things like this can happen. People have to remember that doctors, nurses, technicians, pharmacists are HUMAN, and extremely overworked, especially in the case of nurses and their assistants because there are too many patients and not enough nurses. II'm curious if that concentration of Heparin is even normally stored in a NICU or pediatric floor...I have a friend who's a NICU physician, I'll have to ask him. As people have mentioned, yes there have been far too many people dying and even more injured from medical mistakes and there are more systems being developed all the time to try to prevent it, but when you have overworked, overstressed nurses, sleep deprived interns and residents they can just happen, no matter how much they try to be prevented. I have a PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter...a long term IV in the upper arm that ends right next to the heart) and I hav

Film Straz 05:49:41 PM Nov 30 2007

How many other times has this happen in hospitals. We only hear about it when it happens to a celebrity. Something has to change.

pconkling7843923 05:10:43 PM Nov 30 2007

They should sue that stupid hospital and staff! Those who administered the drug to those poor innocent babies should go to jail for life or worse!! I am outraged!!! Dennis Quade probably one of the best actors to ever be in the movies is very loved and respected by all. It's a shame that one guy who does so much for children in 3rd world countries and is so good hearted would have this thing happen. Alot of prayers and support are in order here. I am praying to all the angels and saints to protect the babies.

dokmarten88 04:52:21 PM Nov 30 2007

his kids being sick is God's punishment for the lies he told in that damnable movie (Day after tomorrow)...

dokmarten88 04:52:21 PM Nov 30 2007

his kids being sick is God's punishment for the lies he told in that damnable movie (Day after tomorrow)...

dokmarten88 04:52:21 PM Nov 30 2007

his kids being sick is God's punishment for the lies he told in that damnable movie (Day after tomorrow)...

lkvw28 04:38:22 PM Nov 30 2007

85% of you people<---------------Idiots. Go comment on something you know about, if there is such a thing.

And by the way, the next time you go to a pharmacy to get a prescription filled, be sure and INSIST that the pharmacist stops what he's doing to ring up your socks, chewing gum, and magazine because you're entitled to good customer service. Then complain that we're all 'entitled' to perfect healthcare after your distracting tantrums causes a med error for you or someone else in line with you.

bhc34 04:38:00 PM Nov 30 2007

Our prayers are with the beautiful babies. We tend to underestimate the strength of newborns. The most unfortunate error that was made makes us realize how inadequate some medical personnel are. Those responsible should be released from their jobs iimmediately...no excuses.

WildsWld 03:32:12 PM Nov 30 2007

Sunsetstripman, SHUT UP!

PERKY485 02:32:00 PM Nov 30 2007

I AM TRULY SORRY THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED AND WHOM EVER MADE THIS TERRIBLE ERROR SHOULD BE FIRED. THESE CHILDREN COULD DIE. THIS IS HORENDIOUS. MY PRAYERS OUR WITH THE FAMILY. DEAR GOD BRING THESE TWO PRECIOUS ONES BACK TO THEIR FAMIY.

deniseinbailey 01:47:51 PM Nov 30 2007

My prayers are with the babies and the parents ,I almost lost my child many times due to lung problems,he is fine now when doctors said he would not live past nine.He is now 32 and doing great.KEEP THE FAITH AND GOD BE WITH YOU ALL.

NBGPROPERTIES 01:44:32 PM Nov 30 2007

WHO THE HELL IS SUNSTRIPMAN ANYWAY. AN IDIOT, THATS WHO. HOPEFULLY HE HAS NO CHILDREN OF HIS OWN. WE DO NOT NEED ANYMORE STUPID PEOPLE WALKING AROUND.

DO NOT BREED SUNSTRIPMAN!!
COMPASSION IS A VIRTUE, NOT ONE OF YOURS, EVEDENTALLY.

cappijo 01:42:00 PM Nov 30 2007

I AM REAL SORRY, MY PRAYS ARE WITH YOU. MY GRANDSON SPENT THREE MONTHS IN THE HOST. WHEN HE WAS BORN DUE TO HIS BOWELS NOT FUNCHNING, HE WAS ONLY ONE DAY OLD WHEN HE WAS OPPERATED ON.
HE IS 5 YEARS OLD TODAY AND VERY HEALTHY.
GOD BLESS.

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