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It was a normal pregnancy, or at least
it seemed that way. I started showing a lot earlier then my
first pregnancy. I assumed it was because it was my third
pregnancy. Chris and I were elated to be pregnant and yet
hesitant. We had miscarried a year earlier and held our breaths
with this pregnancy until we heard the baby’s heartbeat.
Relieved at hearing a heartbeat we set back to enjoy the pregnancy
and spending time with our two year old daughter, Allie, especially
since we had just moved to Phoenix with Chris’ work
and I was now a stay-at-home mom. I was twelve weeks pregnant.
During the holidays we traveled to Utah
to visit family. While there we received a telephone call
from the nurse at my doctor’s office; my Alpha Fetal
test had come back positive. I needed to have an ultrasound
immediately to confirm the gestational week of the pregnancy.
Chris and I were nervous but knew we would accept whatever
the ultrasound and tests confirmed. We arranged to have the
ultrasound done at a hospital nearby. We were shocked to learn
we were having twin boys, and thus learned the reason for
the test being positive. I was sixteen weeks pregnant.
After the holidays we returned to Phoenix
still in disbelief that we were having twins. Before leaving
for Utah, I had scheduled an ultrasound for the beginning
of January with Phoenix Perinatal Associates; a practice my
OB/GYN referred her patients to for ultrasounds. Chris and
I were excited to have another ultrasound and a chance to
see our twins. We took Allie with us to see her baby brothers.
The ultrasound tech who had been telling us what we were seeing
on the ultrasound, suddenly grew quiet and more intense on
looking at the images on the screen. She excused herself from
the room and returned with Dr. Finberg, who, as he looked
at the images of our boys, told us we had twin to twin transfusion
syndrome, and explained our care would be transferred to the
doctors at Phoenix Perinatal Associates. Before I new it we
were meeting with Dr. Jordan Perlow and he was explaining
to us what twin to twin transfusion syndrome was and what
our treatment options were. Due to the severity of the fluid
levels we agreed to have an amnio drain done immediately and
in a whirlwind we were out the door and into the car heading
to the hospital. I calmly called my mother to tell her what
was happening. As the words left my mouth that the twins’
lives were in danger I broke down. Sadness and fear overwhelmed
me and I did not want to believe what was happening to my
babies. I was twenty weeks pregnant.
Chris and I spent days researching TTTS
and getting in touch with The TTTS Foundation. When we received
the manual from the Foundation we read it back to front and
two times more, passing it on to family members as well. The
manual went with us everywhere. We decided to continue with
therapeutic reduction amniocentesis as needed with twice weekly
ultrasounds and bedrest. Chris and I also decided if this
treatment was not working we would go forward with the fetoscopic
placental laser therapy. The remainder of the pregnancy was
agonizing. Chris and I felt as though we were holding our
breaths until each ultrasound. If the ultrasound showed good
fluid levels for both boys we allowed ourselves to breath
a sigh of relief and relax for a few moments, then immediately
began holding our breaths again in fear, anticipation, and
worry. Our parents and friends took turns caring for Allie
and us. Everyone we knew was saying prayers for our boys.
We had a tremendous support system, yet Chris and I were drifting
apart as we each struggled with what was happening to our
children.
By 24 weeks gestation, I was on complete
bedrest, monitoring my contractions twice daily, having ultrasounds
twice weekly and cervical examinations every other week then
every week. I felt lucky; I only had to have one more amnio
drain, but the bedrest was difficult. It angered me to be
so restricted, yet I knew I had to keep the twins alive. I
was also foolish, I had read The TTTS Foundation manual and
ignored the nutrition advice to drink Boost and Ensure. My
doctors also emphasized my need to intake large quantities
of protein. Scared to gain too much weight, I ate some protein
but it was not enough. By the end of the pregnancy I was anemic.
During the pregnancy Dr. Perlow arranged
for us to meet with a neonatalogist and tour the NICU. The
meeting allowed Chris and I to see what we could expect and
have any questions answered about care after delivery. Chris
and I now felt more prepared to handle the risks of delivering
the twins early. Through many prayers, excellent doctor care
and pure determination, I carried the twins to 36 weeks and
had a scheduled cesarean section. Because the initial anesthetic
did not work I was given a larger dose and fell asleep during
the delivery. Chris watched as Christian, the recipient twin
was delivered, weighing 5 lbs 1 oz. Christian was blue and
having problems breathing. He was immediately handed to one
of two neonatalogist teams present and was placed on oxygen.
One minute later, Michael, the donor, was delivered, weighing
4 lbs. 1 oz. Michael’s umbilical cord was shriveled
away, but he was alive and placed in the care of a Transition
Nursery while Christian was taken to the NICU. Four days later
we left the hospital as a family. Christian and Michael were
healthy. Chris and I knew we had experienced a miracle.
Today, Christian and Michael are two and
a half years old. They are mischievous, adventurous, and loving.
Christian was diagnosed with mild to moderate pulmonary valve
stenosis at nine months old and we continue to monitor it
yearly. Thankfully, it has remained stable. Chris and I sought
marriage counseling to help mend the effects the stress of
the pregnancy had on our relationship. We are thankful every
day for Christian’s and Michael’s lives and are
grateful for Dr. Perlow and his colleagues at Phoenix Perinatal
Associates for their compassionate care during our pregnancy.
We are also thankful to the TTTS Foundation for being there
for us; providing support to Chris and I and our families,
and helping us ask the questions that needed to be asked.
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