[deezelpope]

BY JEREMY OLSON
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 07/23/2007 01:42:21 PM CDT


Five of the Morrison sextuplets have died, and the lone surviving infant remains in critical condition, according to a statement released today by Children's Hospital in Minneapolis.

Lucia Rae Morrison died on Sunday, six weeks after her June 10 birth. Brianna Morrison delivered the children at 22 weeks gestation, which is 18 weeks premature and is considered the extreme limit of viability. None of the children were larger than 1 pound 3 ounces.

Sylas Morrison, a boy, remains in the neonatal intensive care unit at Children's. Three of his siblings, Tryg, Bennett and Lincoln, died within a week of birth. A fourth, Cadence, died June 23.

"Though our difficult time continues, our faith remains strong," said Ryan and Brianna Morrison in the Children's statement. "Our families, friends and churches have provided us with great comfort, for which we are deeply grateful."

The struggles are in sharp contrast to the continued progress of the Masche sextuplets, which were born in Arizona 12 hours after the Morrison children. One of the Masche babies was discharged from the hospital last week, and the other five remain hospitalized.

The Morrison sextuplets were conceived with the use of fertility drugs. The parents, both 24, have said previously that they understood the risk of proceeding with a multiple pregnancy, but declined selective reduction, a process by which some of the fetuses are terminated in the womb.