Visiting Washington D.C. to sit his exams last week, Dakarai decided to stop by the hospital where he and his four brothers and sisters were born almost 18 years ago for a spur of the moment visit.

Although Dakarai knew that as the only quintuplets born at Howard University Hospital (HUH), he and his siblings were special to the staff there, he was still overwhelmed by the reception he received when he arrived with only a few hours notice.

"Everything kind of just went crazy," he said. "All the nurses came running out. Everybody gave me hugs.

"There were lots of pictures and everyone was very excited. I came out premature so it was amazing for them to see me now. I didn't think that I would receive that kind of reception but it was tremendous."

While he and his siblings visited the hospital every other year until they were about six, this was his first visit in more than ten years. Nonetheless, the building of his birth was familiar to him. "When I went in, I recognised the place. When I go to school I will visit regularly."

While at the hospital, Dakarai spent time with the nurses and doctors who helped deliver the quintuplets and cared for his mother during her long stay.

One of these staff members was Davene White, current Director of HUH Cares and a member of the Neonatal Team headed by Dr. Antoine Fomufod at the time of the quintuplets' birth. "As a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner at HUH, I was assigned to Baby #2 (Dakarai) and had the pleasure of receiving and stabilising him after his birth in 1991," she said in an email to The Royal Gazette.

Dakarai was very excited to see her: "Davene White actually held me when I came out of my mama's womb. She held me first. That was amazing."

During her extended stay in the hospital, both prior to, and after the quintuplets' delivery, Dakarai's mother, Robin, became very close to many of the staff.

"Robin spent several months in the hospital, which is not easy. We tried to make her stay comfortable and she was very appreciative of our efforts.

"We could see that she longed for her Bermuda — but the babies came first," said Ms White. She added: "His mom honoured my work with Dakarai throughout his stay in the hospital by asking me to be his Godmother — a role that I quickly accepted. So, I am proud to be a part of his plan to attend Howard University."

She was clearly impressed by how Dakarai has turned out: "It was a pleasure to greet Dakarai — a bright and beautiful young man. Everyone we spoke to at HUH remembered the quints. The nursing staff were elated to meet him.

"We all could not believe how much time had passed. Dakarai received many hugs and handshakes. Everyone wanted a picture with him."