A Journey we never expected.
Life has a way of throwing us into deep waters when we least expect it. My stepson and his girlfriend recently found out they are expecting twins! As young parents, the initial shock quickly turned into hope – but a routine 20-week anatomy scan changed everything.
Our medical team confirmed that they are expecting Monoamniotic-Monochhronic (MoMo) twins . This means our babies are sharing a single amniotic sac and a single placenta. It is an incredibly rare, high-risk condition occurring in less that 1% of all twin pregnancies. Because they share everything, there is a constant, dangerous risk of umbilical cord entanglement. To add to this complex journey, doctors also detected soft markers for Down Syndrome during the scan.
THE ROAD TO GROOTTE SCHUUR
Currently at 25 weeks, the clock is ticking rapidly. At 28 weeks, mom must move to daily, intensive fetal monitoring at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town to ensure both heartbeats stay strong. Because of the high risks associated with MOMO twins, doctors have scheduled a mandatory Caesarean delivery at 33 weeks.
This means our tiny miracle twins will be born nearly two months early and will face an immediate, extended stay in the NICU. (intensive care unit).
WHY WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR HELP:
While Groote Schuur is providing incredible medical support, the financial reality of the sudden situation is overwhelming. Both parents are working hard at entry level jobs, brining home a combined weekly baseline that barely covers their basic rent and food. As retirees, my husband and I are doing everything we can emotionally, but we cannot fund the mountain of expenses ahead.
The babies will born micro-prematures. They will require specialised items that a normal baby budget simply cannot stretch to cover. We are reaching out to our community, friends and kind strangers to help us build a safety net for these two fragile lives.
WHERE YOUR DONATIONS WILL GO:
Every single cent raised through this campaign will be directly managed to cover essential needs for the twins' survival and first few months of life:
*SPECIALISED PREEMIE SUPPLIES – R 4 750
Size 0 (micro) diapers/nappies and premature baby clothes tailored for sensitive NICU environments.
*MEDICAL COMMUTE COSTS – R6 300
Petrol and transport costs to get to Groote Schuur Hospital for monitoring from 28 weeks onwards, and to visit the NICU daily after birth.
*ESSENTIAL TWIN GEAR – R 5 400
Two basic preemie-safe car seats (essential for hospital discharge), a double bassinet/crib setup and feeding supplies.
*SPECIALISED FEEDING KIT – R1 500
A manual breast pump, storage bags, and specialised slow-flow preemie bottles essential for premature develpment.
*PLATFORM FEES & EMERGENCY CUSHION – R3 150
Accounts for BackaBuddy's transaction fees and a small buffer for emergency medical supplies or pharmacy costs.
No donation is too small. Even the cost of a single pack of nappies or a tank of petrol will directly ease the heavy burden on these young parents, if you cannot donate, please consider sharing our story.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
