Quadruplet Graduates from Medical School with Help from Doctor Who Delivered Her

Category: Human Interest

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. deliver / dɪˈlɪv ər / (v) – to assist a mother in giving birth
    Example:

    A male doctor helped deliver the baby.


  2. bestow / bɪˈstoʊ / (v) – to give as an honor
    Example:

    The headmaster bestowed the medal on the graduate.


  3. quadruplet / kwɒˈdrʌp lɪt / (n) – any of four children born at one birth
    Example:

    The quadruplets were born in July.


  4. unique / yuˈnik / (adj) – without like or equal
    Example:

    Each of the four children is a unique individual.


  5. aspire / əˈspaɪər / (v) – to desire something
    Example:

    She aspires to become a doctor.


Article

Read the text below.

One of the quadruplets born at UCI Medical School, Brianna Miner, graduated from the same school with the help of Dr. Manuel Porto, the doctor who delivered her and her three siblings.


Dr. Porto, a doctor and associate dean at UCI, bestowed the ceremonial green hood on Miner when she received her medical degree.


Miner and Dr. Porto first met 27 years ago. On February 10, 1990, Dr. Porto and his team of 40 medical staff delivered Brianna and her siblings at UCI Medical Center.


The Miner quadruplets were the result of a fertility procedure called Gamete  /ˈgæm it / Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT). Dr. Porto and the medical team worked hard to make their unique birth successful. Each baby was assigned a color that indicated their designated specialists and equipment. Brianna’s was green, the same color of the hood that Dr. Porto put on her during her graduation day.


Dr. Porto has been an important part of the Miners’ life since the birth of the quadruplets. He attended their birthdays and graduation parties. He was also the one who called and congratulated Brianna when she was accepted to UCI’s medical program.


Brianna also mentioned that she aspires to put all the things she learned from Dr. Porto into action.


Meanwhile, the Miners’ three other quadruplets are pursuing diverse careers in different parts of the world. One is in China for an architecture internship; another is in Arizona, taking up law; the last one is in Wisconsin, working in a healthcare software company.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Like the Miners, would you like to have more than one baby at the same time? Why or why not?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of having multiples like the Miner quadruplets?

Discussion B

• What do you consider your most important achievements?
• Who or what is your inspiration in achieving your goals in life?