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Our story......

After having all odds against us to ever have a family in September 2010 my husband mark and I were delighted to discover that we were expecting our first baby. At an early scan we were blown away to be told we were expecting twins! At 20 weeks we found out we were having two little girls, dreams do come true!!

I felt great through my pregnancy no major complications until a routine scan at 28 weeks which revealed that one of the twins (Mollie) was not receiving the correct blood flow and oxygen she should be. We were ushered into another room after the scan, i just knew something wasn’t right. I remember looking at the doctor with utter fear and saying does this mean they need to be delivered? He looked at me and said we will try and keep them inside as long as possible, we will give you scans every other day and steroid injections to help with their lungs. The babies could be born at anytime from now.

After a scary few weeks, At 31 weeks the doctors at the RVI made the decision to admit me to the ward, i needed to be scanned daily and heavily monitored. A scan at exactly 32 weeks showed that the blood flood and oxygen was now at a dangerous level and the girls need to be delivered quickly. It all happened so fast, doctors discussing with me that the babies would need to be taken straight to the special care unit, i had surgeons discussing with me about the emergency section, signing consent forms and canuals being fitted into my hands for theatre.  However we were then faced with another hurdle and told that there was only one bed available in Special Care at RVI. Most of the units were full and we were told you can go as far as Leeds and Edinburgh or the babies even separated! however the staff bent over backwards and managed to transfer us to North Tees hospital. 

On 11th April 2011 Sophie was born weighing 4lb 1.5oz and Mollie was born weighing 2lb 12oz. Sophie was immediately whisked away to special care as she had breathing difficulties however Mark got to hold Mollie for a short while but she was then taken to special care. All that constantly goes through your head is are they going to be ok. 

Initially the girls were transferred to the green area (the middle area). I remember going in and all i could see was equipment and all i could hear was beeps from the alarms, it was very very scary and daunting for us both for what should be the most happiest time of your life.. The girls were both in incubators and attached to various wires and tubes to monitor and feed them. Sophie was hooked up to CPAP for the first few days and then managed to breathe alone. All i wanted to do was hold my babies but instead i was only able to touch them through incubator doors. 

After 5 days the girls were transferred back to the RVI special care to the green area. The girls needed help with jaundice and had a few ups and downs along the way. We were concerned we weren't bonding with the girls and the staff helped us by introducing kangaroo care (skin to skin contact) which helped massively.  The girls went from strength to strength and after a couple of weeks they were transferred to the blue Area. They were allowed out of incubators and put into cots with apnoea alarms attached to their bodies. Everything was more relaxed and not much equipment or alarms sounding off, we felt more in control of our babies here they eventually started to feel like ours. The girls managed to feed well, put on weight and keep their own temperatures. After what felt like the longest 4 weeks and sitting by their bedside for over 14 hours a day the girls were allowed home. This was without doubt the best day of our lives. 

Our time is special care, although relatively straight forward compared to others we met was quite hard emotionally. No one can ever prepare you for the shock of seeing such small vulnerable babies. The hardest part was having to walk away each night and leave your babies in hospital, We will never forget that empty feeling. This is where the staff come in, they are amazing.  We got to see first-hand just how much incredible work is done there and how well all the staff on the ward look after the babies in their care. Unfortunately for many parents with babies in SCBU the journey doesn’t have the happy ending ours did, an ending we will be forever grateful for. Whilst we can never repay SCBU for the amazing care, support and compassion they showed us, we’d like to go a small way to giving something back by raising money for Tiny Lives and myself and my husband will be running the Great North Run for the first time. 

Sophie and Mollie are now happy and healthy 6 year olds and as parents we are incredibly proud of the hurdles they have over come in their short lives and that is down to the fantastic start they got from the RVI, the doctors, consultants and all staff on SCBU. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts they are simply our world.  They would love to give something back and will be raising money by running the Mini Great North Run for the second time which they are excited about!xx

Thanks for taking the time to read our journey We Both find it so awkward asking people for money and don't often do it, however if we can even give a small amount back we both believe it's better in tiny lives pocket. Wish us luck we are gonna need it!!!!xxx




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