Ashley Garnder and her husband Tyson welcomed four children, including two pairs of identical twins, without incident. When Gardner of Utah shared her response to learning she was expecting quads online in August, it garnered her international attention.
Tyson and Ashley faced ɪɴꜰᴇʀᴛɪʟᴇ for eight years before working with Dr. Russell Foulk of the Utah Fertility Center in Pleasant Grove. Ashley says of their I.V.F process, “He literally got the last two eggs that I had. If we had waited one more month, there would not have been eggs to harvest.” Even with two eggs in play, the Gardners were given a 40 percent chance of having one baby.
And both Ashley and Tyson’s arms were about to be full of everything they ever wanted. Ashley was carrying two sets of identical twins – the only babies she would ever give birth to. This Lone Peak grad carried the four girls for 29 weeks and 4 days, with 7 1/2 weeks on hospital bedrest.
But Ashley wasn’t bored. By the time Ashley met her miracles, the Gardners had become quasi-spokespersons for the ɪɴꜰᴇʀᴛɪʟᴇ community. She spent hours answering questions on social media, reading messages of support, and sending love to those struggling to start families.
Then on Dec. 28, 2014, the bedrest ended and so did the word “rest” in any form. The four baby girls were born within 2.5 minutes, small but healthy.
“It’s amazing to see babies come into this world,” Tyson says with emotion. “You can’t describe it, you have to feel it.”
Five neonatologists and a total of 37 people were in the much-anticipated delivery room at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, prepared to take care of each baby girl’s needs. Within two months, Indie, Esme, Scarlett, and Evangeline had all come home – and the family was together in their American Fork townhouse.
“I like to say, ‘These are the little blessings I never knew I wanted,’” Ashley says.
Tyson and Ashley recall the shame and embarrassment they felt during their ɪɴꜰᴇʀᴛɪʟɪᴛʏ journey. They didn’t realize people all over the world were dealing with the same struggles.
“We tell them our story is not going to be theirs, but they do have a story,” Tyson says.
For the Gardners, their journey has been driven by faith. “What we’ve been through has intensified our testimonies and our belief in a higher power,” Tyson says. “Our faith in God has grown, especially at the end when people were praying for us and we were feeling the power. God had a perfect plan for us, and all of those years were part of that plan. There is no way we would have been mentally or physically prepared for what God had in store for us until now. Multiples take a toll on every aspect of your life.”
Tyson and Ashley have high hopes and high excitement for the future. “The girls are going to be forced to play an instrument,” Ashley says. “That is important to me.”
Although the girls look alike at first glance, close followers of the family can tell them apart. And Ashley and Tyson see four unique personalities.
“Indie is the most friendly – she’ll always give you a big smile,” Ashley says. “Scarlett is pretty sweet, too. Esme is our vocal one, and Evie is emotional. She’ll be fine and then all of a sudden start screaming for no reason.”
Both sets of grandparents live in Utah County and have lent support, as have aunts, uncles, friends, and LDS ward members. But Ashley and Tyson largely take care of the girls themselves, which involves a tight schedule.
