This past weekend, my family and I attended the Children’s Memorial Hermann/UTHSC Fetal Center Reunion at the Houston Zoo. These are the wonderful surgeons, MFMs (maternal fetal medicine specialist), and nurses that worked tirelessly alongside us as we battled through Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome back in April 2014. A line of friendly faces in bright blue matching shirts welcomed us under the big white party tent along with a full stocked with props photo booth, thumbprint art collage for families to do, and an assortment of snacks including apple slices and animal crackers. The girls found the person dressed up in the green polyester giraffe costume, “Topper” the hospital’s mascot quite amusing. A step forward from last years’ reunion where the mere sight of him terrified them.
In the midst of catching up with our former nurses, one of them asked me if I would be interested in being a mentor, someone that pregnant moms dealing with Twin to Twin Transfusion could call and talk to.
“Yes, absolutely, I’d be happy to!” I exclaimed.
As soon as I answered the question it brought me back to the day ‘that moment in time’ that changed my life.
I’d entered the exam room, 23 weeks pregnant with Katie and Lauren, along with my parents, and Abby (Ed was not able to make it) and as soon as the doctor placed the ultrasound wand on my belly the words I’d been terrified to hear were spoken.
“Your girls, do indeed have twin to twin.”
Nothing could have ever prepared me for that heartbreaking news. It was as if all my life up until that moment I’d been coasting along. Always winning, never losing. I’d been making straight A’s, catching all the green lights and now it had all come to an abrupt stop. Instead my report card revealed straight F’s and I would get every single red light.
Why me? Why my babies? I did everything right. For all the countless tears I shed I knew I couldn’t change the diagnosis. My babies were in grave danger, and what mattered more than anything was our next move: How we were going to save them. For us the solution was the laser ablation surgery, that created two placentas one for each girl in place of the one that they had originally been sharing. For another family the answer may be something different. In any case I want to be there for families, in particular pregnant Moms, going through this–to answer any questions, to listen to the terrified cries and to inspire hope and faith.
I’m beyond thankful for everything that I have been given; my life, my health and my three children.
As life changing as that moment was, it is probably the first of many in this path of life. And if I lived through it once, I can do it again. And this time while helping others along the way.
