Our Babies Could Use Your Support

['Hamas' Jenkins]

The great news is that I am a dad of two beautiful little girls.

The terrible news is that those girls are in extreme medical duress.
Yesterday, my wife gave birth, via emergency c-section, at 29 weeks, two days. At sixteen weeks, what looked like a normal, but rare, identical twin pregnancy became far more complicated. Our babies were diagnosed with a disorder that happens about 15% of the time with identical twin pregnancies called Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome. A detailed medical description isn’t necessary, but a brief one may help to understand.

The placenta provides blood flow and nutrition to a developing fetus. Most of the time, identical twins draw from the placenta with little issue, but in Twin-to-Twin, there is an imbalance. One twin, called the recipient, pulls too much blood from the placenta, and also the other baby. This makes the recipient polycythemic, basically the exact opposite of anemic. With too much blood, especially red blood cells, the blood becomes sludgy, and all the extra fluid which the baby receives from the extra blood puts a great deal of strain on their system, and can lead to congestive heart failure and other problems.

The other twin, the donor, experiences problems due to a lack of blood volume.

As a result of this circulatory imbalance, there is a massive discrepancy in amniotic fluid. The recipient swims in a pool of it, while the donor is, in essence, shrink-wrapped by the lack of fluid as the amniotic sac pulls in around it.

The condition is gravely serious, and without treatment, will usually carry a mortality risk of 100%.

After finding out that what we thought was going to be a normal pregnancy was anything but at 16 weeks, we had a procedure done in St. Louis called fetoscopic laser ablation. Developed a little over a decade ago, surgeons make a small incision in the mother’s abdomen, and with a small endoscope and laser, cauterize shared vessels between the two twins. This helps to establish a normal blood flow between the two babies.
We had this procedure done on May 6.

Initially, everything looked great, as the fluid levels between the two babies balanced out, and blood flow patterns appeared within normal range. About three weeks after the procedure, our specialists noticed that the condition had actually reversed itself. About 10% of the time, the condition will spontaneously reverse itself.

It was apparent to doctors at this appointment that this had happened near the end of May. Fluid levels were imbalanced, but still at the very end of normal. As such, the doctors felt it was the best interests in prolonging the pregnancy, which was not yet at viability, to avoid another event that would require making a hole in the amniotic sac. Thus, we embarked on a pattern of extreme vigilance. At multiple appointments per week, doctors performed an ultrasound wherein they would measure amniotic fluid levels, blood flow across the umbilical cords, and within the cerebral arteries in the brain.

After this second scare, it appeared that things began to normalize. Most of our subsequent appointments looked improved, and everything appeared to be on a healthy, normal trajectory.

Until Wednesday night.

Late Wednesday, my wife began to feel a series of small contractions. While normal in the third trimester, she had enough in a short period of time that it was necessary to call the doctor. He had us come into the hospital for closer monitoring, and after doing so, noticed that one of our babies was in distress. We had three ultrasounds last night and early into Wednesday morning, and after doing so, the doctors felt that it was in the best interests of the babies to deliver them at an extremely early, 29 weeks, but still viable age.

At 5:09 and 5:10 pm yesterday, we welcomed our little girls into the world.

Continued in post #2

[angelo]

My thoughts are with you and your family.

Ang

[HonestChieffan]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Just wanted to give you all another update.

Today has been a good day. The doctors extubated Logan about four hours ago and she has tolerated it excellently. She still has nasal prongs helping her ventilation, but she's on room air concentration. She's peeing and pooping a lot, which is also great news.

Hailey has also done well today. The doctors moved her to an oscillating ventilator since her blood pressure improved, and that has greatly improved her condition. The doctors have taken her off of dopamine, which is a medicine used to increase blood pressure, and she has been able to manage it quite well.

For those of you asking, my wife has been tremendous throughout this entire ordeal. She's handled the emotional trauma with tremendous poise, which I think has been enhanced by the fact that she's a PICU nurse.

Thanks again for all the messages of support. They make a tremendous difference.

Prayers continue. Awesome news. And the picture , well the pictures tell it all. Be strong.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Just wanted to give you all another update.

Today has been a good day. The doctors extubated Logan about four hours ago and she has tolerated it excellently. She still has nasal prongs helping her ventilation, but she's on room air concentration. She's peeing and pooping a lot, which is also great news.

Hailey has also done well today. The doctors moved her to an oscillating ventilator since her blood pressure improved, and that has greatly improved her condition. The doctors have taken her off of dopamine, which is a medicine used to increase blood pressure, and she has been able to manage it quite well.

For those of you asking, my wife has been tremendous throughout this entire ordeal. She's handled the emotional trauma with tremendous poise, which I think has been enhanced by the fact that she's a PICU nurse.

Thanks again for all the messages of support. They make a tremendous difference.

Glad to hear. My Mom has worked in the NICU at St. Luke's for nearly 40 years. The stories of perseverance and overcoming the most gut-wrenching challenges were always amazing to me, but even more so once I became a parent myself. Best stories were of the reunions that they had, where the kids came in years later bounding around where the nurses and doctors could see them healthy and thriving.

[Old Dog]

Thanks for the update and we (speaking for my family, not for anyone else on the board) will certainly keep your family in our prayers.

[Delaney37]

Good to hear some good new...continued prayers and thoughts for you and your family Hamas

[jsmax]

Thoughts and prayers your way Hamas.

I can also say that I am the proud father of a Daughter born at 24weeks (1lb 5oz) and spent many a days at the NICU. Your pictures look stunningly familiar. The doctors and nurses at most NICU's are the best there is. As my daughter turns 20 in 2 weeks, I can also say that while early days were tough, she is now a normal 20yr old girl.

[cdcox]

Fantastic news! Been thinking about you guys all day. Hope things continue to go well.

[milkman]

I never know how to respond to these type of threads, since I don't pray, and "sending good vibes" sounds so lame, but the news in the last update is good to hear.

Hope things continue to look good.

[Bowser]

Great news, Hamas. And great to hear that you and your wife are bearing this well. Once the girls are out of immediate danger, it will turn into a grind for them to get up to weight so they can go home. Hang in there.

You have twin daughters. How freaking cool is that?

[Fish]

Glad things are looking up. Hang in there.

[TrebMaxx]

More prayers sent.

[Buehler445]

My God.

You have my prayers

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Just wanted to give you all another update.

Today has been a good day. The doctors extubated Logan about four hours ago and she has tolerated it excellently. She still has nasal prongs helping her ventilation, but she's on room air concentration. She's peeing and pooping a lot, which is also great news.

Hailey has also done well today. The doctors moved her to an oscillating ventilator since her blood pressure improved, and that has greatly improved her condition. The doctors have taken her off of dopamine, which is a medicine used to increase blood pressure, and she has been able to manage it quite well.

For those of you asking, my wife has been tremendous throughout this entire ordeal. She's handled the emotional trauma with tremendous poise, which I think has been enhanced by the fact that she's a PICU nurse.

Thanks again for all the messages of support. They make a tremendous difference.

Keep the good news coming...

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Very glad to hear it. Be well.

[The Franchise]

That's awesome to hear.