 Timeline |
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| January 31, 2006 |
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Found out I was pregnant |
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| February 7, 2006 |
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Pregnancy confirmed - about 5 weeks pregnant |
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| Februaury 21, 2006 |
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Saw the little heartbeat - baby measuring about 7.2 weeks
We are due on October 8, 2006 |
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| March 22, 2006 |
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Pregnancy going well. Heartbeat nice and strong. |
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| April 7, 2006 |
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TWINS!! BOYS!! Wow. 13.5 week pregnant. Both heartbeats nice and strong. On bedrest until followup with Dr. Spinnato on Monday. Concerned babies may be sharing a sac. |
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| April 10, 2006 |
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14.1 weeks pregnant. Ultrasound tech discovered thin dividing membrane. Concerned that Baby B (Jake) did not have much amniotic fluid. Being referred to a Maternal Fetal Speicalist. |
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| April 11, 2006 |
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Appt. with Dr. Rowe today. Discovered our babies were being affected by twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). News not good. Dr. Rowe giving our boys only a 10% chance of survival for one or both babies. Diagnosis is early in the pregnancy. The earlier the diagnosis, the worst the outcome. Babies are strong and growing well at this time. Baby A's sac was large with the deepest pocket being 5.6 cm's with a sac total of 19.9 cm's. Baby B's fluid was so low they could not get a measurement and he is what they call a "stuck" twin. Baby A was estimated to weigh 4 oz. with a strong heartbeat of 161 bpm. Baby B was estimated to weigh 3 oz. with a strong heartbeat of 173 bpm. |
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| April 16, 2006 |
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15 weeks pregnant
Daddy and I have named you two!!
Baby A - Clark Daniel
Baby B - Jake Matthew |
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| April 25, 2006 |
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Well we are 16.2 weeks pregnant.
The TTTS has progressed. Clark's (Baby A) fluid volume has increased. Deepest pocket was at 9.1 with a total volume of 28.4 cc's. Jake's (Baby B) fluid volume was measured at 0.7 total volume, this measurment was taken from the only fluid pocket they could see. Clark's bladder was visible and full. Jake's bladder was not able to be seen at this visit. We were able to detect kidney's by doppler readings only.
Clark now weighs an estimated 7 oz. and a strong heart beat of 146 bpm. Jake now weighs an estimated 5 oz. and a strong heart beat of 171 bpm.
Dr. Rowe has told us if we want to give the boys any chance at survival he is recommending us to have the laser surgery and possible other procedures done within the next two weeks. There are only about 5 surgeons in the country qualified to perform such a procedure. He will be giving us information and Mark and I will be making a decision soon. |
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| April 26, 2006 |
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Mark and I decided to go through with any invassive procedures. We have contacted the Fetal Care Center of Cincinnati and they have reviewed our charts. They are recommending we make it there by next week before the condition gets worse. |
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| April 27, 2006 |
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Mark has made all of the arrangements. We will be flying to Cincinnati on Sunday morning. How could all of this be happening to us? |
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| April 30, 2006 |
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17 weeks pregnant
Mark and I finally made it to Cincinnati. There were so many flight delays due to weather. We made it to our hotel room around midnight. We have a ton of tests scheduled for tomorrow. |
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| May 1, 2006 |
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We have so many tests scheduled for today.
First test at 8:00 a.m. - level II ultrasound. Clark is so active. He weighs an estimated 9 oz. and has a strong heart beat of 144 bpm. He is so cute. Clark's amniotic fluid volume by the deepest vertical pocket is 9.6 cm. Jake is still stuck. He weighs an estimated 6 oz. and has a strong heartbeat of 153 bpm. Jake's amniotic fluid volume by the deepest vertical pocket is 0.87 cm. Clark and Jake are at a 29.41% weight discordance.
Second test at 11:00 a.m. - MRI. This was a horrible test. Clark would not stop moving enough for them to get clear pictures. The total MRI took over 4 hours, done in stages. I could not stand being in that machine any longer. Good news, there were no abnormalities seen on either of the babies. They are slightly concerned with cord insertion on Jake. It appears to be laying on the membrane rather then actually on the placenta.
Well, the MRI took so long the rest of the day is ours at 6:00 p.m.!!!! We are going to bed early. So far the news has been good. |
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| May 2, 2006 |
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Many people to meet with today. We really only have one test scheduled for today.
8:00 a.m.- Fetal Echocardiogram and EKG - Things appear to be okay. Clark shows possible a little bit of strain on his heart. His doppler readings were slightly elevated in comparison to Jake. Their heart rates varied less than five beats per minute.
We met with the Fetal Care team tonight. Dr. Crombleholme went over all the tests with us and gave us our options with this pregnancy. We have been classified as a stage III-A, almost a stage III-B, in the Cincinnati modification of the staging system. The options that were given to us were: doing nothing (certain death for both), termination of the pregnancy, selective termination, multiple amniotic reductions, micro septostomy and fetoscopic laser surgery. We were told that the presentation at this early gestational age certainly puts the babies at the highest risk for mortality no matter what therapy was chosen. Based on all the information given, Mark and I decided to go with the amniotic reduction, microseptostomy and the laser surgery. We wanted to give both of the boys a chance to fight.
We are scheduled for surgery first thing in the morning. |
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| May 3, 2006 |
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17.3 weeks pregnant
We were told there was a great chance Jake would not make it out of the surgery after the connecting vessels were photocoagulated due to placental share insufficiency.
The surgery was very challenging due to my placenta lying very anterior. The surgeons were able to identify only two vascular connections and they were successfully photocoagulated. The surgeons were also able to perform five laser micro septostomies, hoping to re-establish amniotic fluid levels.
The surgeons drained over 1400 cc's of fluid from Clark's sac.
Clark and Jake tolerated the procedures well. Now it is a wait and see. Things can still go down hill in the next 12 - 24 hours post surgery.
Right now, they are fighting!! |
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| May 4, 2006 |
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Good news!!
The boys are still stable with strong heart rates and good fluid levels.
Betsy, our genetic counselor, came in today to go over the chromosome analysis with us. They are genetically perfect. They have 46 XY chromosomes and no numerical or structural chromosome abnormalities. |
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| May 5, 2006 |
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Clark and Jake are stable. They are showing strong heartbeats and Jake has almost doubled his amniotic fluid. He has also gained one ounce since arriving in Cincinnati. Dr. Polzin has given us the green light to fly home tomorrow. |
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| May 9, 2006 |
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18.2 weeks pregnant
Today was my first visit with Dr. Rowe since leaving for Cincinnati. The news was not what Mark and I were expecting.
Clark's fluid was again increased. The deepest verticle pocket measured 10.2 cm's with a total volume of 36.1 cm's. This was the highest yet. He now weighs an estimated 10 oz. and has a heart rate of 146 bpm. We were also told Clark had mild tricuspid regurgitation consistent with early heart failure. We were also told that Clark's kidneys were larger then they should be and his bladder was distended.
Jake's fluid level was decreased again. The only verticle pocket that could be measured was 1.0 cm's. He now weighs an estimated 7 oz. and has a strong heart rate of 154 bpm.
Dr. Rowe advised the TTTS was persistent and severe. We were advised that not all of the placenta could be seen and not all of the vessels could be lasered. It was apparent by today's visit that the TTTS had not gone away but has gotten worse. Dr. Rowe recommended another amniotic reduction and septostomy.
We are scheduled to return to the hospital tomorrow. |
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| May 10, 2006 |
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Today we had another amniotic reduction and microseptostomy. Dr. Rowe drained over 1200 cc's of fluid from Clark's sac.
The boys tolerated the procedure well.
Clark's heart rate was strong at 146 bpm and the deepest vertical pocket now measured 6.3 cm's with a total of 17.4 cm's.
Jake's heart rate was strong at 140 bpm and the deepest verticlal pocket now measured a total of 4.3 cm's.
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| May 15, 2006 |
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19.1 weeks pregnant
Today's news was better than I had imagined.
Clark's fluid was slightly increased but better than last week's appointment. The deepest vertical pocket measured 6.5 cm's. His bladder was full, but not distended and his kidneys were shrinking down to a normal size again. His heart was strong at 162 bpm.
Jake's fluid was slightly decreased but better than last week's appointment. The deepest verticle pocket measured 2.6 cm's. Fluid was seen in his stomach and bladder. His heart was strong at 133 bpm. |
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| May 24, 2006 |
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20.3 weeks pregnant
The roller coaster never ends.
Clark's amniotic fluid was increased again. The deepest vertical pocket is 11.7 cm's with a total volume of 42.3 cm's. His bladder was distended and his kidneys were filling with fluid again. His heart is strong at 150 bpm.
Jake's amniotic fluid was slightly decreased from the last appointment. The deepest vertical pocket and total fluid volume was 2.2 cm's. His heart is stong at 158 bpm.
The amnion and chorion have seperated along the entire endometrial lining. Clark is literally just floating in this bubble of a sac now. Dr. Rowe advised me the findings on Clark and Jake were very worrisome and prognosis remains very poor for both babies both in utero and after delivery.
I have gained 6 pounds in nine days. Dr. Rowe is now concerned with maternal MIRROR syndrome. He advised me of what to look for and I was told to come to the hospital if I had any symptoms. Dr. Rowe stated that my life was in jeopardy if conditions got worse and he would have to make the decision to deliver the boys if this happened. |
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| May 27, 2006 |
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20.6 weeks pregnant
I began having contractions today.
Mark took me to Clear Lake Regional Memorial Hospital where the news could not have been worse. I was in preterm labor and I gained 5 1/2 ponds in three days.
Clark's fluid was at it's highest with the deepest vertical pocket measuring 15.6 cm's. His heart rate was 140 bpm.
Jake's fluid volume was none. Dr. Rowe could not get a measurement of his fluid. His heart rate was irregular. Pleural effusion and saltatory cardiac rhythm was seen and his heart rate was changing frequently from 67 - 154 bpm. Jake was not moving.
Dr. Rowe advised us that it was time to deliver the boys. Jake was in heart failure and the MIRROR syndrome was getting worse for me with gaining 11 1/2 pounds this past week. There was nothing more we could do to save our precious babies.
I was scheduled for a c-section tomorrow to deliver Clark and Jake. |
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| May 28, 2006 - Delivery |
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21 weeks
The operating room was silent.
Dr. Rowe drained over 4500 cc's of bloody amniotic fluid from Clark's sac and I had complete seperation of the amnion and chorion.
Clark was delivered weighing 1 pound with a distended abdomen.
Jake was delivered weighing 11.1 ounces with contracted extremities due to the pressure of Clark's sac pressing his sac.
I saw my precious babies clinging to life. There was nothing anyone could do to save them. They were perfect in everyway, just born too soon. |
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| May 28, 2006 - Their Birth |
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Born in Webster, Texas at Clear Lake Regional Medical Center
Clark at 12:55 p.m. weighing an amazing 16 oz. and 10 1/2 inches long
Jake at 12:56 p.m. weighing an amazing 11 oz. and 9 1/2 inches long |
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| May 28, 2006 - Their Death |
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Jake passed away on May 28, 2006 at 1:54 p.m. He lived for 58 minutes.
Clark passed away on May 28, 2006 at 3:15 p.m. He lived for 2 hours and 20 minutes.
The two of you were perfect in every way. You fought so hard to survive and Mommy and Daddy fought so hard to save your precious little lives. You may not be here for me to cuddle and hold in our arms but you will always be held and cuddled our my hearts. |
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| June 3, 2006 |
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Clark Daniel and Jake Matthew Rocka were laid to rest at Rosewood Funeral Home and Cemetary in Porter, Texas. |
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