Ian & Eli: Near Identical Twins - Their Story

By James A. Gauthier J.D.

Ian and Eli Gehardi are near identical boy/girl twins. Only ten known births of such twins has been recorded and no such births in the past one-hundred years. Ian and Elis birth may be unique, but each is equally gifted with 160+ IQs making them some of the smartest people in the world. Their intellect is tied to their special cognitive abilities of remote viewing, premonitions, clairaudience, clairvoyance, healing and telekinesis.
Ian and Elis lives from birth to present are documented from personal journals and medical records maintained by their parents. Because Ian and Eli are near identical twins, they were subjected to medical testing and psychological evaluations at different stages of development since birth. The tests and outcomes are all outlined in their story and will surprise the readers.
Ian and Eli chose to be partners in life. A young pregnant woman told the medical center admissions personnel that she was there to deliver a child. Learn how Eli bonded with newborn Hayden and how Haydens heart rhythm is matched identically to Ian and Elis hearts. Learn how Eli and Hayden are cognitively connected and can experience each other with skills beyond those of ordinary human development. Learn why Ian and Eli believe Hayden was delivered to them as a gift from God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Jan 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490754109

James A. Gauthier J.D.

The author is a 71 year-old former teacher who proudly served his country in Viet Nam before returning to college where he received his Juris Doctor degree in 1985.. The author practiced law until 2020 when he retired from everything except for Judicial Arbitrations. The Author moved to Medina, Ohio in 2021 where he describes living in Ohio is just like being on vacation every day. Author has published fourteen books under the pen name of James A. Gauthier, J.D.. His books are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

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CHAPTER ONE

Who are Ian and Eli Gehardi?

From Lisa’s Journal:

H ans and I have been married for seven years without children. My first three pregnancies failed for various reasons beyond my full understanding. I recall how excited Hans and I would get when I missed my monthly cycle. We would make an appointment with the OB/GYN and pray that the pregnancy could be confirmed and the child brought to term. Sadly, that never happened. I became angry at the world because I couldn’t carry a pregnancy to term. Like many women, I blame myself for the failures and I carried my sorrow deep within me.

I would always keep a smile on my face and a loving attitude towards Hans. I would never want Hans to see the disappointment that I was feeling because I couldn’t have children.

Hans and I entertained all of the pregnancy options from fertility classes to possible in vitro fertilization. The fertility doctor had Hans participate in sperm counts and we both learned to follow calendars and body temperatures for ovulation.

We wanted to be pregnant so badly that we were open to trying anything that might make a pregnancy possible.

I am always quick to explain that I love Hans and he is a good man and a good husband. I can’t help feeling like I have a lot of room left in my heart for a child to share our lives.

I pray daily asking God for help in getting pregnant.

Despite doing everything our fertility doctor told us to do, Hans and I remain without a child.

Hans and I did like so many disappointed couples do; we gave up on having a child and decided that we would be each other’s best friend for life. I feel fortunate because I have a loving and understanding husband that supports me unconditionally and accepts the premise that we will be, and unfortunately remain a childless couple.

From Hans’ Journal

I am very happy with Lisa. I met her in graduate school and we fell in love and were married. I can accept a childless life so long as I have my loving wife at my side. We must look at God’s will in our lives.

At one point, when Lisa was feeling really down on herself, I reminded her that we give birth to beautiful music scores. Maybe God wants us to remain focused on our music.

From Lisa’s Journal:

I listened to my loving husband and God’s plan in our lives. I love our music, but I feel a little lonely without a child when our friends all have children. I never know what to talk about because we have no shared experiences. I feel empty when I see children playing and often ask God why I can’t have a child too.

From Hans’ Journal

I can see Lisa’s depression deepening and I am worried about her because of her sadness and my understanding of why she is so sad. I am not sure what to do to help Lisa except to keep showing her my unconditional love.

I suggested to Lisa that we play our music together. I love to hear you play the flute.

I heard Lisa begin to cry and I felt her disappointment and even some of her general anger. Lisa told me that it isn’t fair that God would deprive us of a child. Why does God not favor us with a child?

I replied that if God’s plan in our lives is to have a child, then you will get pregnant and have a child.

I decided that it was time that Lisa and I consider a small vacation and get away from our house and discussions about getting pregnant. I asked Lisa to put the pregnancy request at the foot of the cross and let our Lord decide what is best for our marriage and our lives. I am also concerned about Lisa, especially when she won’t accept music. I have booked us a room for three days at the beach. I am looking forward to the quiet and calm of the ocean.

From Lisa’s Journal:

I began keeping a personal journal. Hans and I stayed at the beach and we celebrated our lives and our marriage. We thanked God for all the blessings we had received in our lives to date and for those blessings yet to come in the future.

One of our many blessings is that Hans and I are gifted musicians. We write music for movies, stage theater and television. We are very successful composers and we truly love music. It fills our life with joy, but never like a child would fill our lives.

I often thought that quite possibly God intended Hans and I to be childless and to focus on our music. There I go again rationalizing why I can’t have a child.

Hans would hold me daily and reassure me that if children were part of God’s plan for our lives, then I would get pregnant and deliver. To that end, every night I asked God that I get pregnant so Hans and I can share our lives with a child.

[Two weeks post beach trip]

I noticed that I did not have my monthly cycle. I was excited and wondered if I was really pregnant. I fantasized about a pregnancy, but feared telling Hans because of the disappointment I know he felt when I lost my first three pregnancies.

I may actually be pregnant. I am terrified to tell Hans, or to see an OB/GYN, for fear that the pregnancy will be jinxed. I have decided to keep the possible pregnancy to myself until I feel that I know for sure. I do not want to get Hans’ hope up if this is a false pregnancy again.

I missed my second month’s cycle as well. MAYBE!

I have decided to tell Hans. I held Hans and quietly told him that he is going to be a father. I watched Hans nervously touch my abdomen and he asked, My love, are you really pregnant?

I said that I think I am pregnant. I have missed two menstrual cycles and I am feeling some changes occurring in my body. This time I feel different than before. I am certain that we are pregnant and I am so excited.

Hans and I thanked God for the opportunity to fulfill our dream of becoming parents, if that was truly God’s will for our lives. Hans and I agreed that I would see the OB/GYN right away and verify our pregnancy.

I have never been so afraid of bad news in my life. After all, it was the doctor that told me that my first three pregnancies had failed. I fear what the doctor might say this time.

I called and scheduled an appointment with Dr. Knowles; an OB/GYN. I looked to Hans and said that he was going with me because I can’t face this alone. I don’t want Dr. Knowles to tell me that it is a false pregnancy, or that something is wrong with the pregnancy or me. If he is going to say something like that, then I want him to tell you; not me.

Hans and I arrived for our 2:00 pm appointment.

From Hans’ Journal

Lisa was so frightened that I couldn’t get her to stop crying. She shook and kept telling me that she couldn’t face another loss of a child.

Lisa and I heard the receptionist tell Dr. Knowles that his next patient is a basket case. She hasn’t stopped crying since she arrived at the clinic.

Dr. Knowles personally welcomed Lisa and me to the medical clinic. He was a kind, soft spoken doctor in his sixties. Dr. Knowles’ demeanor helped Lisa to calm down enough to begin her appointment.

Dr. Knowles asked why Lisa was so upset.

I replied that we have had three failed pregnancies and Lisa is terrified that you will tell her that this pregnancy will fail too.

Lisa was able to talk about her prior pregnancies and what had happened, or at least what she had been told. Lisa described in detail everything we did in order to get pregnant before giving up on the idea.

From Lisa’s Journal:

I told Dr. Knowles that all Hans and I ask for is a child and how empty and disappointing our lives have been to this point without a child.

Dr. Knowles promised to take good care of me and our unborn child.

I told Dr. Knowles that if he had any kind of bad news, then please tell Hans. I cannot emotionally handle it.

Dr. Knowles smiled and said that he would do everything he can to bring our child to full term.

Dr. Knowles asked me when my last cycle was. From that information, he speculated that I could be six or seven weeks into the pregnancy which was a good indicator that the pregnancy would reach full term. I became more excited about the pregnancy.

I asked when Hans and I could hear the baby’s heartbeat. I need to hear the baby’s heartbeat to know that everything is all right with our pregnancy.

Dr. Knowles replied that he wouldn’t let us leave without first hearing our baby’s heartbeat. He said that hearing the heartbeat is the first contact with your unborn child and helps in the bonding process later on.

I thanked Dr. Knowles and explained how fearful I am of bad news. Hans and I want a child and we have tried almost everything to get pregnant.

Dr. Knowles used a Doppler and let me and Hans hear our baby’s heartbeat for the very first time.

Dr. Knowles explained that our baby’s heartbeat of 132 beats per minute confirms that we are in the seventh week of pregnancy.

From Hans’ Journal

I asked how Dr. Knowles could tell how far Lisa’s pregnancy is based upon the heartbeat.

Dr. Knowles explained to Lisa and me that our baby’s heartbeat tells him how far along Lisa is in the gestational or development of our baby. The heartbeat of unborn infants is very exact. At six weeks, a baby’s heartbeat is between 103 and 126 bpm. At seven weeks, the heartbeat is between 126 and 149 bpm. If I checked your baby next week, the heartbeat would be between 149 and 172 bpm. By 12 weeks, your baby’s heartbeat would be lower again at 120 to 180 bpm and remain in that range until your baby is born.

Lisa and I both explained to Dr. Knowles how nervous we were hearing our child’s heartbeat for the first time. Lisa mentioned to Dr. Knowles that she thought she was hearing an echo in the heartbeat.

Lisa asked if our baby’s heartbeat sounded like it should.

Dr. Knowles listened very carefully and said he could only hear one heartbeat and it is very strong. I do not hear the echo you apparently heard. Your baby’s heartbeat sounds like it should so please don’t worry. Everything sounds good to me.

From Lisa’s Journal:

Dr. Knowles took his time; was comforting and reassured us that everything looked good and acknowledged how nervous we both were. He encouraged us to relax and get our thoughts off the pregnancy as much as we could. Stress isn’t good for the pregnancy either. He asked Hans if we had any activities to help us relax.

Hans told Dr. Knowles that we are musicians and composers. We relax when we write and play our music.

Dr. Knowles suggested that Hans and I become engrossed in our music and let him worry about our pregnancy.

My next appointment was at 12 weeks. I had a love/hate relationship with Dr. Knowles. I wanted to see him and be reassured that all was fine with our unborn child; while at the same time I wanted to avoid him for fear of what he might say about the pregnancy.

At twelve weeks, Hans and I asked to hear our baby’s heartbeat again to reassure us that everything was still all right with our unborn child. Dr. Knowles accommodated us and used the Doppler once again.

From Hans’ Journal

Lisa and I carefully listened to our child’s heartbeat. Lisa mentioned that she heard the echo again and asked me if I could hear the echo.

I said that I thought I heard the echo or two heartbeats. I’m not sure of what we are hearing, but it almost sounded like two heartbeats.

Dr. Knowles smiled and said that he heard our echo this time. However, what we heard wasn’t an echo.

Before Dr. Knowles could explain, Lisa asked him, if not an echo, then what is it? Is there a problem with our baby’s heart?

He replied, You are having twins and what you thought was an echo was your second’s child’s heartbeat.

Dr. Knowles indicated his surprise that our babies’ hearts seemed to beat in identical rhythm to each other as if the babies’ hearts were synchronized into the same rhythm.

Lisa panicked and asked again if Dr. Knowles was suggesting that there is something wrong with our children’s hearts.

Dr. Knowles told us that our twin’s hearts are healthy and normal sounding. He explained that he had delivered hundreds of twins and I have never heard twin heartbeats sound in perfect rhythm giving the echo effect you noticed. It is unusual, but I promise you that nothing is wrong with your children’s hearts.

Lisa and I were so excited to hear two distinct heartbeats. We prayed daily that our children reach term and be born healthy.

From Lisa’s Journal:

God and I became good friends during my pregnancy. I thanked God for Hans and his loving support and confidence that our children will reach term and we will become parents; finally!

Dr. Knowles’ nurse called and let me know that he wanted to do a routine twentieth week ultrasound. The nurse reassured me that an ultrasound was standard practice and nothing was wrong with our pregnancy.

I was terrified that Dr. Knowles would find something wrong with our children. I prayed and held Hans closely as we arrived for the ultrasound appointment.

Dr. Knowles talked with me and Hans and made it a point to say that he did ultrasounds on all pregnancies at twenty weeks. He looked at me and asked me to relax. I will show you your children after the ultrasound is completed.

Hans and I quietly waited for the ultrasound technician. As we waited, I prayed over and over asking God to protect our unborn children. Despite Hans’ repeated assurances that everything would be fine, I had great difficulty avoiding my irrational fear. I told the technician that if you see something wrong with my children, please tell my husband and not me please.

The technician moved the transducer over my abdomen and stopped. She kept looking at the screen, stopping and then restarting. I was truly worried about what she was seeing on her screen. I kept asking myself why she keeps stopping and began wondering if something was wrong with our children. Hans also saw all of the starting and stopping and asked technician what she was seeing.

The technician explained that she was sorry, but only the doctor can discuss the results of the ultrasound.

I reminded her to please tell Hans if you see something bad.

The technician replied again that Dr. Knowles will review the ultrasound and then talk with you.

From Hans’ Journal

Dr. Knowles reviewed the ultrasound and then explained that our twins were conjoined at the hands. He identified a boy and girl child and explained that the girl’s right hand was joined to the boy’s left hand, and it appeared as if they were holding hands in utero.

I asked what he meant by being conjoined at the hands.

Dr. Knowles explained that it appeared on the ultrasound the babies’ hands were stuck together. I can see each child’s separate hand and I don’t believe that the condition is anything to worry about. I will need to deliver your children by cesarean section when the time comes and then their hands will be separated surgically following their birth.

To bring comfort to Lisa and me, Dr. Knowles brought in a surgeon to consult on the anticipated surgery. Dr. Richardson also felt the surgery would be a simple procedure and the children would be fine. His words brought some comfort to Lisa and me.

Lisa asked, except for the joined hands, do my children look healthy?

Dr. Knowles told us that our children looked beautiful and they will be born. I can promise you that. You and Hans are about to become parents of twins. Please look over here and see your children.

Lisa and I were so excited to see our children. Just knowing that they were healthy and would be born was an answer to our prayers. Dr. Knowles pointed out our children’s hands and it appeared to us that they were holding each other’s hands.

I overheard the ultrasound technician quietly report to Dr. Knowles that at one point in time, it appeared to her that our children’s hands separated as she moved the transducer, but then quickly joined again. I watched the doctor return to the ultrasound screen and view the ultrasound with the technician.

Lisa saw what was going on and asked if Dr. Knowles found something wrong with our children.

Dr. Knowles explained that the technician thought she saw your children’s hands separate when she moved the transducer over your abdomen and then reconnect. I just reviewed what she saw and I am of the opinion that the event was shadowing on the film. There is nothing to worry about or I would tell you.

From Lisa’s Journal:

I was somewhat relieved that our children appeared healthy despite being conjoined. We decided to name our unborn son, Ian and our unborn daughter, Eli. We thanked God for our children and prayed that God keep them healthy.

Hans and I reached the point where we were finally confident that our children would be born and we began preparing our home for Ian and Eli’s arrival.

I can’t wait to introduce Ian and Eli to their parents and their home. I am ready to become a mother and Hans gets excited thinking about becoming a father.

As my pregnancy appointments progress, I am learning to relax a little more each time. At each visit, Hans and I ask to listen to our children’s heartbeats. The sound of the heartbeats comforts me and Hans. Dr. Knowles again commented that the children’s heartbeats were synchronized and that was medically unusual, but not a problem. He reassured me and Hans that everything looked good for a timely cesarean birth.

Dr. Knowles scheduled ultrasounds for every other appointment. He knew how nervous Hans and I were and the ultrasound would reassure us that all was fine. The subsequent ultrasounds confirmed that Ian and Eli’s hands were joined, reaffirming the need for a cesarean section birth.

I didn’t mind the thought of a cesarean birth. I just want our children born and I thank God for letting that happen this time.

On April 25, 1988, I was sitting and playing my flute when my water broke. I heard a sound like a breaking water balloon and I had amniotic fluid running down my legs. Hans yelled out, What was that?

I told Hans that it is time to head to the hospital. Today our children will meet their parents. Hans and I were so excited to greet and be with our children. I noted that nine months is a long time to wait for something as special as our twins.

From Hans’ Journal

We were ready to go. I had packed the car with Lisa’s travel bag and infant car seats weeks prior in anticipation of this day. I called Dr. Knowles’ office and let him know that we were on the way into the hospital.

[April 25, 1988-10:48 a.m.] Lisa and I arrived at the medical center and Lisa was quickly moved into the pre-operation room where she was prepared for a cesarean birth. I finished last minute paperwork and then suited up to be with Lisa during the delivery.

It took Dr. Knowles less than five minutes to deliver Ian and Eli into our lives.

I heard Dr. Knowles comment on his voice recorder that he was delivering two very healthy twins conjoined at the hands. Dr. Knowles directed the two nurses to carefully lift our children up while being careful to not injure their arms. One nurse lifted Eli and another lifted Ian.

As I watched the nurses, one of the nurses screamed when our children’s hands separated. The nurse calmed down and explained that she was terrified that one of the babies’ arms had been torn off and that is why the children separated.

Present at the birth was Dr. Richardson, the on-call surgeon. He directed the nurses to place Eli and Ian in new born beds so he could evaluate their hands. He confirmed to Dr. Knowles and to me that our children’s hands were not conjoined and no surgery would be needed. Dr. Knowles said, I still can’t believe your children were holding hands in utero.

From Dr. Knowles’ Chart Notes:

Ian and Eli were laid next to each other and they quickly joined their hands once again. I mentioned that I was unaware of any twins ever holding hands in utero, much less post-delivery. Dr. Richardson briefly separated Ian and Eli’s hands and they quickly rejoined their hands. This behavior occurred three times. Dr. Richardson said this behavior was very unusual for new born twins. I documented the behavior in the medical file. I was equally surprised in that the children appeared to be identical twins with different genders – something I had read about in medical school, but had never seen.

From Hans’ Journal:

Dr. Knowles was talking with Dr. Richardson and he referred to our twins as monozygotic. Lisa and I weren’t familiar with the term and we feared that it meant something like down syndrome or even worse.

Lisa began to panic and interrupted Dr. Knowles to ask what he meant when he said that our children are monozygotic. I didn’t know what to think and my anxiety climbed quickly.

I watched Dr. Knowles place his hand on Lisa’s forehead as he explained that the word Monozygotic means Identical twins. You have given birth to extremely rare monozygotic boy/girl twins. The literature refers to this condition as being considered ‘near identical’ because of the gender differences." The condition is virtually unheard of in modern medicine.

I asked Dr. Knowles if our children are healthy.

Dr. Knowles said that our children are beautiful and identical twins; well almost identical anyway.

Dr. Knowles contacted the hospital’s pediatrician, Dr. Smith. He confirmed that from direct appearance, Ian and Eli were true monozygotic boy/girl twins. Dr. Smith explained to me and Lisa that there only ten documented cases of near identical twin births in the world and none in the last century. That is why your children’s birth is so important to the medical community.

Dr. Smith explained that the medical center would need to temporarily retain our children for evaluation and testing because of their unique birth status. There are some critical tests that we need to perform to document the birth status and evaluate your children before they bond with you.

Lisa’s first question to Dr. Smith was, What is wrong with our children? Lisa explained that she was terrified and didn’t want to hear his answer. Lisa reached for me from her hospital bed seeking my hand for comfort.

Dr. Smith replied, Your children are healthy and there is nothing medically wrong with either child.

I asked Dr. Smith, If there is nothing wrong with our children, then why can’t we take our children home with us?

Dr. Smith explained that Ian and Eli were believed to be an extremely rare birth of Monozygotic or identical twins even though they were different genders. Dr. Smith said that typically monozygotic twins were identical with two female or two male children. In Ian and Eli’s case, they were monozygotic boy/girl twins arising when the embryo has an extra ‘x’ chromosome, e.g., Lisa’s fertilized egg had a rare ‘xxy’ chromosome. When her fertilized egg split, the female ‘xx’ genes and the male ‘xy’ gave rise to identical twins of different sexes."

Dr. Smith further explained that our children are considered to be ‘near identical’ twins because of the different sexes. However, because there had been no ‘near identical’ twins born in the past one-hundred years, the medical literature speculated that in such a birth, the near identical twins should be considered non-monozygotic or fraternal twins, claiming that when monozygotic twins are born male/female it is due to an unknown chromosomal birth defect caused by the additional ‘x’ chromosome.

I saw Lisa panic as she asked Dr. Smith what he meant by birth defect. Lisa’s question was ignored as Dr. Smith walked out of Lisa’s hospital room. Lisa pleaded with me to find Dr. Smith and ask about the chromosomal birth defect and how our children are affected.

I found Dr. Smith. He returned to our hospital room and reassured us that we have nothing to worry about. Our children are healthy.

It had been thirty-five minutes since our children were born and we haven’t seen either Ian or Eli. We had learned from friends and family that newborns were quickly cleaned up, blood drawn for medical testing and heart function evaluated. The typical amount of time for this to be done was twenty minutes or less. The