A Scottish mother, Sally Kynoch, is celebrating the survival of her twin girls, who overcame what seemed to be insurmountable odds in the face of a potentially fatal fetal condition.
Her “miracle” twins, Kelsea and Willow, were born at 32 weeks, each breathing on her own—a remarkable outcome given that, at one point, the babies were given only a 10% chance of survival.
Now seven months old, Kelsea and Willow are thriving after their battle with a rare condition that could have ended tragically.
The turning point for the family came when Kynoch, who lives in Moray, Scotland, was more than halfway through her pregnancy. During a routine check-up, she received life-changing news. Medical professionals identified a severe complication, and she was promptly transferred from the Aberdeenshire Maternity Hospitalto the specialized Fetal Medicine Department in Glasgow.
It was there that her twin daughters were diagnosed with stage 4 twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a dangerous condition that affects twins sharing a single placenta.
TTTS occurs when blood flows unevenly between twins, with one twin donating more blood than it receives, while the other twin takes in more than it needs.
This imbalance puts both twins at risk: one could die from blood deprivation, while the other might experience heart failure from the strain of too much blood. In Kynoch’s case, the TTTS had escalated to a critical level, known as stage 4, signaling an immediate threat to both babies’ lives.
With limited options, the medical team explained the severity of the condition to Kynoch, along with potential treatment pathways. After carefully weighing the risks and benefits, Kynoch and her healthcare providers decided to pursue a highly specialized surgical procedure called laser ablation.
“After discussing possible options… we decided to go ahead with laser ablation to seal off some of the blood vessels in the placenta so that both babies receive a more equal supply of blood,” Kynoch told the Daily Record.
This delicate procedure involved using a laser to cauterize certain blood vessels in the shared placenta, aiming to regulate the blood flow between the twins. The decision was not made lightly, as it posed significant risks, including the possibility of preterm delivery, membrane rupture, and other complications for the babies.
However, without intervention, doctors estimated only a 10% survival chance for both twins. “Thankfully, the laser ablation was successful,” Kynoch said, recounting her relief that the procedure went as hoped.
The weeks following the surgery were filled with anxiety. Kynoch and her family braced themselves for the possibility of complications as her pregnancy progressed, but the twins continued to develop, showing resilience at each check-up.
“The weeks following the surgery were scary. We didn’t know what to expect,” she said.
Against the odds, Willow and Kelsea reached 32 weeks’ gestation before being delivered prematurely. Both babies took their first breaths unassisted, an encouraging sign of their strength. Although the twins spent a month in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), their recovery was swift, and they were eventually able to go home, with each baby showing positive signs of development.
Today, Kynoch is grateful that her daughters are thriving. At seven months old, Kelsea and Willow continue to grow stronger every day, defying the dire prognosis they once faced.
Reflecting on the experience, Kynoch describes her daughters’ survival as nothing short of a miracle. Her story highlights the courage of families confronting such life-threatening conditions and the capabilities of modern fetal medicine to offer hope even in the darkest circumstances.
TTTS affects a small percentage of twin pregnancies and poses significant challenges for both parents and medical teams. The success of Kynoch’s laser ablation procedure offers a beacon of hope for others facing similar diagnoses, underscoring the importance of specialized care in high-risk pregnancies.
Advances in fetal surgery and neonatal care continue to make a profound difference, transforming outcomes for families like Kynoch’s.
Recommended For You
