Illinois triplets reunite with NICU nurses to celebrate 1st birthday

MAYWOOD, Illinois -- A set of triplets from west suburban Villa Park were reunited with their NICU nurses to celebrate their first birthday Thursday.

Ava, Finn and Kyle Santiago were treated to cupcakes at Loyola University Medical Center, where they were taken care of for several weeks before going home just in time for Christmas last year.

"Wow. It's been a crazy, awesome, stressful, amazing year," said Heather Santiago, the triplets' mother.

"My life has been wrapped. It's been awesome," said Brandon Santiago, the triplets' father.

The triplets, their mom, dad and older brother were reunited with the neonatal intensive care staff that did so much for the family. The triplets were born on Dec. 6, 2015, six weeks premature and underweight.

Heather and Brandon said at some point they will need a bigger house. Brandon, who is a Villa Park firefighter-paramedic, has kept his sense of humor through that wild first year.

"Five years ago we really child-proofed our home, and it didn't work, we ended up with all these children!" he joked.

Heather said every day the triplets amaze her by doing new things. In her words, "That's awesome."