Blind athlete’s triplets

Press, 25 February 1985, Page 22

Blind athlete’s triplets

PA Hamilton Learning that she was to have three babies was a shock for a near-blind Te Awamutu athlete, Kaye Whitehead. The triplets were born on Tuesday afternoon, and now Mrs Whitehead says she would not wish it any other way. Although Mrs Whitehead is a twin, and her husband, Tom, has twins in the family, the couple had no thoughts of a multiple birth when she first became pregnant. Triplets were detected on her first ultrasonic scan. A triple layette was bought, three basinettes lined up in the spare bedroom, and plans made for extensions

to their two-bedroom home. Mr Whitehead, a paving contractor and landscaper, said that at first the news was “a big shock,” especially for his wife, but now he is delighted. Athletics training and cycling stopped when Mrs Whitehead knew the triplets were expected. She has competed successfully as New Zealand’s representative at several Games for the Disabled. She has a small amount of vision in one eye. In 1980, she won a gold medal in the Netherlands in the pentathlon, and won two gold medals, a silver, and a bronze, in 1982 in Hong Kong. The couple also have competed with success in

tandem cycle races for the visually disabled. Mr Whitehead, the sighted partner, steprs the cycle. The babies were bom at Waikato Women’s Hospital at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. John arrived first, weighing 1800 g. Next came 2194 g Meagan, and last was Dean, weighing in at 2050 g. Mrs Whitehead has been in hospital 10 weeks, and has had some practice bathing and bottle-feeding two new-born babies awaiting adoption. As Mr Whitehead’s job keeps him away from home much of the day, they plan to have some home help, but want to bring up the babies themselves. Mrs Whitehead hopes to breastfeed them.