West Seneca Family Welcomes Rare Quintuplets at Golisano Children's Hospital of Buffalo

Jessica and John Lottbrein of West Seneca, already parents to two young daughters, were aiming to expand their family by one more.

 

However, during Jessica's initial ultrasound, they discovered she was expecting quintuplets.

 

"Initially, I had a full-blown panic attack, and I think John was in shock as well," Jessica recalled.

 

Despite the initial shock, John reassured her, saying, "We'll figure it out."

 

Quintuplet pregnancies are exceedingly rare and come with significant risks.

 

According to medical professionals at Golisano Children's Hospital of Buffalo, this marks only the second instance of quintuplets being born in Buffalo's history.

 

Dr. Valerie Elberson, associate medical director of the NICU, stated, "It's extremely rare. The numbers I've seen are one in fifteen worldwide per year, and in Buffalo, we've only had it happen one other time."

 

Preparing for the delivery required months of meticulous planning and collaboration.

 

Teams from the Maternal Fetal Medicine Center and Golisano Children's Hospital worked together to anticipate every possible scenario.

 

"It was a very collaborative approach," Dr. Elberson noted.

 

Approximately 30 specialists, including obstetricians, NICU staff, nurses, pharmacists, and respiratory therapists, were involved in the planning stages.

 

Despite the risks, doctors encouraged Jessica to maintain a sense of normalcy for her family.

 

She prioritized spending time with her daughters, ensuring routines like school drop-offs and holiday traditions remained unchanged.

 

Jessica was admitted to the hospital in mid-December.

 

Just after midnight on December 18, her water broke, prompting dozens of medical professionals to spring into action, many arriving from home in the middle of the night.

 

"I was wheeled in right before two, and Mason was out at 2:03, with Connor following by 2:11," Jessica recounted.

 

"It was incredibly fast and, for the most part, went smoothly."

 

Holly, Mason, Stefan, Connor, and Layla were born at 28 weeks and five days, each weighing under three pounds.

 

All five were taken to the NICU, where they continue to gain weight and grow stronger.

 

"The Level IV NICU was the reason we chose Golisano," Jessica explained.

 

"Being the only one in Western New York, we wanted all the babies to stay together."

 

As overwhelming as the journey has been, the Lottbreins believe it was meant to be.

 

"Someone wanted us to have five babies," Jessica said.

 

"This wasn't IVF; I didn't implant five embryos. It wasn't our goal to have multiples. When it happened, it felt like fate. We're meant to be the parents of quintuplets."

 

Doctors and family members report that all five babies are thriving in the NICU and are expected to be discharged in the coming weeks.

 

In recognition of a $50 million donation from philanthropist Tom Golisano, the hospital was renamed Golisano Children's Hospital of Buffalo in January 2026.

 

This generous contribution aims to enhance pediatric care and services for families like the Lottbreins.

 

For those interested in supporting the Lottbrein family's journey, a GoFundMe page has been established to assist with expenses related to the care of their quintuplets.