From left: John Milkins, left, has offered to insulate the Letts’ family home, to help Rachel Letts with Lilli, Dave’s mum Val Codyre with Nikkol, Dave Letts with Elyssa.
By Elizabeth Lillis
LAST week the News reported on the financial challenges faced by Dave and Rachel Letts, parents of 18-week-old identical triplets Nikkol, Lilli and Elyssa.
The Letts found the sudden growth in their family from four to seven has created a squeeze on both their finances and their living environment.
As well as the triplets, the Letts have two other daughters – Jade, 11, and Jazzmyn 11-month-old.
Their sedan is too small to carry the whole family, with three baby capsules lined up on the back seat.
Mr Letts is desperate to renovate the extended spare room, but the couple does not have enough money to insulate it and plug the abundant leaks.
Since last week’s story, the News has received many calls from people willing to lend a hand.
Part of the Letts’ building construction dilemmas have now been solved with another multiple birth family offering to assist by insulating their home.
John Milkins, the father of twin daughters, contacted the News offering his services to the Letts to supply and fit the required insulation in their Narre Warren home.
“I remember what it was like when we had the twins. Any help we could get was a bonus,” Mr Milkins said.
Mr Milkins and his wife Sandy have two-and-half-year-old twins Tarryn and Simone, and an older daughter Ebony.
He said he thought caring for twins was hard, but couldn’t imagine the work involving in caring for three babies.
“We just wanted to help,” he said.
He met with the Letts on Tuesday afternoon to discuss what needed to be done.
Mr Milkins, who installs insulation for a living, has offered to complete the job free of charge.
Mrs Letts said she was surprised at interest in the family’s story and the offers of help.
“I’m very happy about the offer for the insulation,” she said. “He has twins, so understands a little about what we are going through.”
Mr Letts, who recently left work to help care for the brood, has decided to work as a truck driver to help boost the family’s financial resources so work could be done on the house.
Mrs Letts said she was hoping a busy bee with some friends who had offered to help could help complete further home improvements.
