VCU Medical Center’s first set of sextuplets reunite with NICU team
The Taiwo sextuplets, now 8 years old, recently visited the doctors and nurses at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU who cared for them when they were born.
February 16, 2026
The Taiwo family recently visited the doctors and nurses who cared for six children when they were born. (Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU)
By Kate Marino
A lullaby chiming through the hallways at VCU Medical Center and Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU is usually followed by exclamations of, “aw, a baby!”
On the morning of May 11, 2017, the lullaby played six times in a row, which meant one thing: The Taiwo sextuplets had arrived!
Preparing for six preemies: Equal parts logistics and heart
The Taiwo sextuplets were born prematurely at 30 weeks gestation. (Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU)
Adeboye and Ajibola Taiwo had tried to conceive for 17 years before learning they were expecting sextuplets.
As they prepared to welcome six new little ones to their family, their medical teams planned and practiced as well. While specialists from maternal-fetal medicine cared for Ajibola Taiwo as her body supported her growing babies, the Labor and Delivery team was anticipating the first set of sextuplets ever at VCU Medical Center. And our Level 4 NICU prepared for six preemies simultaneously – it was a collaborative effort like none other.
“It was pretty amazing, the kind of coordination required to have teams for six different patients. We worked on this for weeks ahead of time and it was really wonderful to watch it come through,” said Russell Moores, M.D., medical director of the NICU.
With the help of a 40-person team, the babies – three boys and three girls – were born at weights ranging from 1 pound, 10 ounces to 2 pounds, 15 ounces. Each Taiwo baby required expert care from our NICU team.
Welcoming the Taiwo family back to Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU
Nurse Julie Buttermore with Setemi Taiwo.Today, the Taiwo siblings are thriving 8-year-olds, keeping their parents as busy as ever. The family recently stopped by the NICU to reunite with the team that helped them start their lives as a healthy, happy family of eight.
“It’s fun to see them this old and doing so well. I can’t imagine having six kids at home of the same age, but the family seems to be doing great,” Moores said at the reunion.
For nurses Julie Buttermore, RN-NICU, and Jamie Burton, BS, RNC-NIC, seeing their former patients was a moving experience that brought back memories of a lifetime.
Nurse Jamie Burton with Funbi Taiwo, who is holding a photo of them from 8 years ago.“The delivery was meticulously planned, and being there for such a significant moment was both incredibly exciting and deeply emotional,” said Buttermore, now an assistant nurse manager of the NICU. She was the primary nurse for the fifth sextuplet, Setemi.
“It was an amazing experience to participate in the delivery, then continue caring for the baby and supporting the family as he grew stronger and eventually went home with his brothers and sisters,” she added. “Seeing him again 8 years later was truly gratifying and a powerful reminder of why I love my job. Being able to talk with him, his parents and his siblings made all the hard days worth it.”
Burton took care of “baby number four,” Funbi, and came in on her day off to see how far her sweet patient has come.
“It was such an honor to be part of the preparation for the sextuplets and then to be with Funbi for her entire journey in the delivery room to admitting her in the NICU and becoming her primary nurse during her stay in the NICU. I created such a lasting bond with this family that will be cherished forever,” Burton said. “I was so excited to see them and mom and dad. They looked amazing and are thriving! The joy on their faces made me so proud to be a NICU nurse.”
The sextuplets are now thriving 8-year-olds. (Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU)
