A Circuit Court judge said he would need evidence from a medical expert to positively link a mother’s drug use during pregnancy to the medical problems her twin sons continue to suffer from today, more than two years after their births.

Even without it, though, the judge said it was evident from what was presented to him Thursday that the mother’s drug use induced the premature births of twin brothers that weighed only about two pounds apiece.

While Circuit Court Judge Mark Hayes gave credit to Linda Wright, 35, formerly of Hickory Hollow Road, Blacksburg, for all of the positive steps she has taken in her life since her twins were born prematurely in August 2007, he said, “I have an obligation to the children as well.”

Wright, who pleaded guilty Thursday morning in Cherokee County General Sessions Court to two counts of unlawful neglect, was sentenced by Judge Hayes to 10 years in the state Department of Corrections, suspended after the service of nine years imprisonment and five years probation.

According to Assistant Solicitor Michael Morin, the first of the twins was born on a toilet at the Hickory Hollow Road home while the second was born later at Upstate Carolina Medical Center.

Both the mother and the twins tested positive for cocaine, the prosecutor alleged in court, and Wright allegedly admitted to using cocaine the night of the deliveries.

One of the babies weighed just two pounds and two ounces, while the other weighed two pounds and four ounces, Morin said.

Wright’s defense attorney argued that she immediately sought medical attention after the first child was born unexpectedly and that none of the medical research the defense attorney found linked the medical problems the children suffer from today to the drugs.

The only link, the defense attorney argued, was that cocaine could weaken the placenta and cause a spontaneous abortion.

“That’s basically all we’re admitting to,” the defense attorney said.

Both of the babies subsequently were adopted by another woman, who told the court that one child continues to suffer from a long list of medical problems, including cerebral palsy.

Fighting tears, the adoptive mother read from a long list all of the normal activities the now 2-year-old child will never be able to experience or accomplish because of his medical problems — from something as simple as going out for ice cream to walking across a stage one day at graduation.

The second child doesn’t have the same types of medical problems but has displayed behavioral problems, the adoptive mother informed the court.

The hospital charges for the care of just one of the two premature babies were about $500,000, Morin told the court.

Wright’s defense attorney asked Judge Hayes to impose a probationary sentence, noting that Wright successfully had been attending treatment and counseling programs and had family members who loved her and relied upon her.

Wright also suffers from injuries herself, the defense attorney said, having been involved in a 2008 car crash that left her with nerve problems and memory loss.

Several family members also spoke on Wright’s behalf, saying she realized she made a mistake and had changed her life.

“I’m sorry for what I did,” Wright told the court. “Nobody can be sorrier than me and I‘ll live with that for the rest of my life.”

Judge Hayes agreed she had changed.

“I have taken into account the progress you have made,” he told her. “That speaks well of you.”