TTTS stage 3 - surgery tomorrow
Less than 48 hours ago, my fetal maternal specialist sent me to Johns Hopkins to the Fetal Surgery specialist with a diagnosis of TTTS (twin to twin transfer syndrome).
The boys were diagnosed a stage 3 and surgery is scheduled for less than 12 hours from now:
Fetoscopic laser photocoagulation: In severe cases of TTTS, Stage 2 or higher, at approximately 16-26 weeks of gestation, surgeons use a laser to block the blood vessels that communicate between the two fetuses.
It all happened so unbelievably fast which I'm grateful for for a number of reasons mostly because they can try to save the boys and also because I haven't had time to think or have much of a breakdown. We have to be back at the hospital in 7 hours to prep for surgery. I am clearly not sleeping tonight.
The team of doctors have said it will be challenging because the placenta is not in an "ideal" place meaning it's going to be hard for them to see the vessels they need to close off.
It's been so hard knowing my babies are struggling and I'm also sick with bronchitis at the moment! I'm grateful we live so close to one of there best hospitals in the world and have an entire team of doctors dedicated to keeping our boys alive. But I am scared shitless. Success rate is 65%.
Please, please, please if you're pregnant with multiples -- especially identical twins-- demand to see a specialist and get an ultrasound every two weeks as soon as you find out you're pregnant with twins. It's the only reason why this condition was caught so early. The boys were fine at the 14 week check up and in just two weeks had deteriorated rapidly.
I'm not the praying type (although now I am seriously rethinking that). But please keep the Thomas twins in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.
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