Karan Johar on kids Yash-Roohi being premature: I was terrified, my heart sank

Karan Johar, who recently welcomed his children Yash and Roohi, born to him via surrogacy, has penned a moving note sharing his experience of knowing his kids were premature. The twins, named after Karan's parents Yash and Roohi, were bon two months premature, and they have been in the NICU ever since.

While Karan was 'terrified' that there were complications with his babies' birth, he has now spoken to the millions of people who have premature babies every year.

In his note, the filmmaker wrote, "I have previously shared the wonderfully exciting news of the birth of my children, Roohi and Yash. None of the many overwhelming emotions that I am currently feeling as I take my baby steps into parenthood would have been possible without the marvels of medicine and the progress it has made today.

"Even the most anticipated events can sometimes leave us shaken, confused. And events that occur without any warning can turn our worlds on their very heads. My children were born two months premature and worryingly underweight. Like any person in this situation and on the brink of fatherhood, my heart sank.

"Knowing that there were complications with my babies' birth owing to how soon it was, I was terrified. All I wanted to do was hold them and protect them but they needed to be in the NICU. It was painful to see how tiny they were... Thankfully, I had a great support system. Roohi and Yash were in the hands of the most competent and patient doctors. Something that had its roots in an ordeal, soon turned into an experience that I will never forget."

Johar goes on to say how the 'guidance, support and solidarity' of his doctor and 'the unfailingly vigilant care he provided for the twins, they are both on their way to a happy and healthy childhood'.

Karan continues, "As someone with a voice, I want to reach out. Millions of preemies (premature babies) are born every year... but babies are resilient. With the right kind of care, they stand just as good a chance of survival as anyone else."

"Having a premature baby is something you don't expect to happen to you. The whole experience has ignited a passion in me to help premature babies get the best chance they can... to help those in anguish who want the best chance of survival for their early born babies.

"Premature babies, when provided with the right kind of care, have just as good of a shot of making it, as babies born on time. If your baby is a preemie, don't be discouraged. Seek help.

"If your baby is born premature, don't lose faith, don't lose heart. I can only share my own experience and hope someone takes heart from it. I feel blessed to have had the care my children received while at the NICU and for all the prayers and support I had - but I urge anyone in the same situation to remember that your baby has the best chance of a long, happy life, too. Don't lose hope."

Earlier this month, speaking at the India Today Conclave 2017, Karan Johar said how he was more 'the mother than the father' of his children. Johar was asked who could be the mother of his children, when he answered, "I am the mother of my children. I am more of a mother than I am a father."

The Ae Dil Hai Mushkil director said, "My need to have children comes from my sense of nurturing. I wanted to channelise the love within me." Karan went on to say that when first he saw his children Yash and Roohi, they were premature. They were supposed to be born in the first week of April, but they were delivered in February. When he later saw them, he wept.

"I didn't even realise that tears were rolling down my face because I just could not believe that there were two pieces of me staring at me, vulnerable, innocent and all piped and tubed up," Karan Johar said.

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