How a brave pair of twins beat the odds
Helen Forrest, 37, could only look on as one of her twins got stronger while the other became weaker
As my little boy Harry placed his ear to my belly, I felt a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. ‘Can you hear the babies?’ I whispered, as he put his hand to his lips to tell me to be quiet.
It was summer 2013, and much to my and my husband Chris’ joy we’d just found out we were expecting twins. Although he was only a baby himself, as soon as we’d explained he was going to be a big brother, Harry, then 18 months, had made sure to kiss my growing bump each day.
I’d heard that twin pregnancies were higher risk, but even though I felt more tired and had more headaches than my first pregnancy, I wasn’t worried. But everything changed at my 16-week scan. I knew as soon as the nurse called the doctor in that there was something desperately wrong. ‘It’s twin to twin transfusion syndrome,’ he said, pointing at the screen. He explained that this meant the placenta was shared unequally between the babies, so one twin was getting too many of the essential nutrients needed for growth, while the other wasn’t getting enough. One baby was growing too much and the other was tiny. The only way to correct it was laser surgery to separate blood vessels in the placenta while they were still in the womb.
‘There is a risk that one or both babies might not survive the procedure,’ the surgeon told us. But without it they didn’t stand a chance either. I couldn’t hold back the tears. The surgery that could save our babies could also kill them, and the odds of both of them surviving the procedure was only one in three.
‘We have to at least try for them,’ I said to Chris, who agreed. We had to give our babies every chance we could, but knowing the odds were stacked against them was devastating. We were meant to become a family of five, I felt sure of it, and now I was being told it might not happen. In despair, I broke down in Chris’ arms.
Back home, we didn’t tell Harry. He was too young to understand and we didn’t know what was going to happen anyway. Clutching my tummy, I willed my babies to keep fighting.
Four weeks later, Chris drove me to King’s College Hospital in London for the surgery while Harry stayed with my parents. Chris was by my side during the procedure. As the laser beam was aimed at my little bump, I couldn’t help
‘Surgery could save the twins – or kill them’
but wince. But though I was nervous I watched in awe as the surgeon explained what was happening. A small camera showed the inside of my tummy on the screen, and I looked on, fascinated. A week later, Chris and I were so relieved when we returned to the hospital and a consultant revealed both babies had survived the procedure.
Worse to come
But while we hoped our problems were over, it was just the beginning. Around the same time, further scans showed that one baby had suffered a bleed on the brain and would need surgery after birth. And when my waters broke at 29 weeks, doctors decided I’d need an emergency
C-section to deliver the babies. ‘This is so early,’ I gasped. But delivering the twins was the only option, so with Chris at my side clutching my hand, I was wheeled into theatre. Sobbing uncontrollably wasn’t how I ever imagined welcoming my babies into the world, but I was so upset and frightened, I couldn’t stop myself.
Niall arrived first on 1 December, weighing 3lb 5oz, followed by Alex two minutes later at a tiny 2lb 2oz. ‘I want to hold them,’ I whispered to Chris. But they were so small, I couldn’t even touch them. Instead, they were rushed to the NICU ward, where they were ventilated.
Chris and I rarely left their side and spent day after day just gazing at them in their incubators, watching their tiny chests rise and fall. But we were also determined to give Harry as much normality as possible, so whenever he wasn’t at nursery, Chris or I would always be with him.
Harry came to visit his brothers in the hospital, and we explained to him they were a bit poorly, and needed special care. By February 2014, the boys were finally strong enough to come home but just days before they were discharged, Alex developed a hernia and had to be transferred for his brain surgery to King’s, 70 miles from our home in Broadstairs. Niall stayed in London with me at Ronald Mcdonald House once he was discharged from hospital in Margate, and Chris brought Harry up to see us.
The twins had been through everything together but now Alex had to show his own strength. He was put on oxygen and had to have an operation to drain the excess fluid on his brain. When Alex came off oxygen we were allowed to place the twins in a crib together and just watching as they reached for each other was so precious. But those moments were tinged with sadness too, because they highlighted just how different the boys were.
While Niall was thriving and getting bigger and stronger, Alex was still tiny. After a month in hospital, we were allowed to bring Alex home and settle him in with Niall. But before we had time to get into a routine, within days Alex deteriorated again. His breathing became laboured, so we rushed him to hospital, where doctors told us he’d developed severe breathing problems and bronchiolitis, and urgently needed specialist care in London. Placed on continuous ventilation, he was in critical condition, and King’s was 70 miles away, so he had to be taken by air ambulance. ‘It will be OK,’ Chris reassured me, but we knew they were just words. The harsh reality was our son was fighting for his life. With paramedics and life-saving equipment, there was no space for me in the helicopter so I drove to London in a numb daze.
When I arrived, Alex had been stabilised, but doctors had no idea why he was suffering so many problems. And the cycle only seemed to repeat itself. We’d bring Alex home for a few days only to rush him back to hospital because he had deteriorated. Meanwhile, Niall was thriving and heading towards his milestones, but my concern for Alex only deepened seeing how well Niall was doing. In summer 2014, he had a feeding tube fitted and he began to gain weight, gradually catching up with Niall. He was still sick but the tube allowed him to maintain all the nutrients and vitamins needed to build up his strength. And finally, he could come home for good.
‘Our son alex was fighting for his life’
Remarkable bond
Now, the twins are four and they are both doing so well. Although they're identical,, the boys are so different in many ways. Niall is sensitive while Alex is bolder and more confident. But the bond they have really is remarkable.
To look at my boys now, knowing what it has taken to get here, makes me feel so proud to be their mum.
l The Children’s Air Ambulance is changing the face of paediatric care through the high-speed transfer of critically ill children. Specialist helicoptors are funded solely by charitable donations and the charity needs to raise £32m over the next seven years to help keep families together. To find out more or to donate, visit childrensairambulance.org.uk