Miracle Twins Will Celebrate First Christmas

December 12, 2009 by Cathy Ribble
Filed under: News

Kristen and Scott Baker have added two more red and white stockings to the family’s Christmas decorations this year to celebrate 6-month-old identical twins Carlie and Claire.

The family lovingly calls them their “miracle babies.” The family faced shock and excitement when they learned in February that Kristen was pregnant with twins. About a month later, they were told that one or both babies were at risk for twin-twin transfusion syndrome, commonly known as TTTS.

TTTS occurs in identical twin pregnancies in which the twins share a common placenta. TTTS affects 10 percent to 15 percent of such pregnancies. Normally identical twins with a common placenta exchange blood equally through connecting blood vessels. With TTTS babies, for some unknown reason one twin receives too much blood which can cause heart failure. The other baby can then receive too little blood.

Left untreated, the disease is usually fatal for one or both babies.

The couple had three other children after normal pregnancies. No one in their family had ever heard of TTTS. Now, Kristen wants everyone to known that December is International TTTS Awareness Month. Her message is that with proper diagnosis and treatment, more “miracle babies” are possible.

Dr. Timothy Crombleholme says, “The disease has largely flown below the radar.” Dr. Crombleholme is a fetal and pediatric surgeon who directs the Fetal Care Center of Cincinnati. The Center treats about 150 TTTS cases each year.

The Fetal Care Center is a collaborative medical team involving Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital and University Hospital.

Ohio-based Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome Foundation estimates approximately 2,000 deaths each year in the United States as a result of this disease. That number is probably low, however, because many cases are not properly diagnosed.

Mary Slaman-Forsythe, founder and president of Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome Foundation, urges “the importance of finding out within the first three months of pregnancy if there is one placenta or two.” Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial.

To read more about the treatment options available for TTTS and more information about this family’s journey, read Miracle Babies Highlight Risk to Twins.

After several pre-birth surgeries and many prayers, the twins were delivered at 32 weeks on May 31. Claire made her appearance 30 seconds before her sister, Carlie.

As the Ohio family prepares to celebrate Christmas, they are thrilled with their own miracle children and the power of prayer.

Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome Foundation