“The NICU team makes you feel comfortable, and you don’t have to worry. I knew my babies were being well taken care of.”
When Aja Kennon first found out she was pregnant, she never imagined she’d be welcoming four babies at once.
“It was two weeks after my first ultrasound that I went in for another scan for triplets,” she recalled. “The technician was checking, and then she said ‘I think there’s another head up there.’ She stepped out and brought another set of eyes in to confirm. I could hear the doctor counting ‘one, two, three… and then four.’ I just froze and thought, are you sure it’s not just another placenta?”
But it wasn’t. It was quadruplets.
Aja’s pregnancy is even more extraordinary because it was completely natural, with no fertility treatments involved. With twins on both sides of her and her fiancé, Emmanuel, families, she joked that it felt almost meant to be. “My mom has a set of twin brothers, and my dad has twin cousins. On my fiancé’s side, his mother is a twin and her mother’s a twin.”
Despite the challenges of carrying four babies, Aja stayed active throughout her pregnancy, working at the USPS up until just a month before delivery. Her determination paid off, as she carried her quadruplets to 34 weeks, giving them a strong start to life.
On July 1, 2025, Aja and Emmanuel welcomed their four beautiful babies: Ean, Evan, Alayha, and Eamon at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (CBMC). The three boys, Ean, Evan and Eamon, share the same first initial “E” with dad, Emmanuel, while girl, Alayha, shares an “A” with mom, Aja.
The delivery room was filled with more than 20 doctors, nurses, and specialists, all working in perfect coordination to keep mom and the babies safe. “Each baby had their own dedicated team of five medical providers from the NICU,” Aja explained. “And then there were the doctors that were there for me, and the ones who did the C-section.”
Even with so many people in the room, she felt calm and cared for. “Everyone was so nice, and so helpful. They talked me through the whole process, definitely making the environment comfortable,” shared Aja.
Claudine Sylvester, MD, FACOG, obstetrician/gynecologist, Medical Director Women’s Health Clinic, Associate Program Director & Medical Student Clerkship Director, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, since 1996, cared for Aja throughout her pregnancy. “Being there at that special moment to care for Aja, Emmanuel, and their newborns was an honor,” said Dr. Sylvester.
“I feel so proud of how our entire team came together, from my fellow clinic attendings, social work, dietary, medical assistants, nursing and front desk reception, to the Maternal Fetal Medicine doctors at New Jersey Perinatal, the Obstetrical hospital team (residents, nurses, scrub techs), the NICU team, and the Anesthesia and Blood Management Teams,” shared Dr. Sylvester. “Everyone worked hand in hand, having open discussions to ensure Aja received the best care possible.”
Dr. Sylvester continued, “Aja was a very thoughtful and engaged patient, and Emmanuel was an incredible, supportive partner every step of the way. She was at the center of everything we did, and the most important member of the team. Together, we had open and meaningful conversations about her care plan and how we could give their babies the best start.”
While the quadruplets were in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at CBMC, they received around-the-clock care as they grew stronger each day. “Caring for quadruplets was a rare and extraordinary experience, but our team was fully equipped for a moment like this. With our state-of-the-art technology and years of experience caring for the tiniest of patients, we were able to provide each baby with the highest level of specialized care,” shared Joanne D. Bishara, MD, Director of Neonatology at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center.
“The NICU team makes you feel comfortable, and you don’t have to worry. I could go lay down, take a nap really quick and then come back, and I knew my babies were being well taken care of. That’s a big thing,” Aja said.
As she reflected on her journey, Aja shook her head in disbelief and laughed. “It’s crazy. I still can't believe it. Sometimes I’m still in amazement… just to naturally carry four babies at one time, it’s amazing. The woman’s body is incredible. They’re here, and they’re perfect.”
The babies’ eight-year-old big brother, EJ, is overjoyed to take on his new role. As for Aja, “I’m definitely looking forward to seeing my babies continue to grow and were excited to have them home,” she said with a smile.
Learn more about Maternity Services and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center.