Note: I will be updating this as we get new information.

Please help my husband and I support our newborn, premature twins, as we help our twin son through his major heart surgery so that he can live a healthy, normal life.

In February of 2025, I became pregnant with twins. My husband and I were overjoyed! We normally spend most of our time living in Tunisia (North Africa), and planned to give birth there and immerse the babies in their dad's culture.

However, at the end of July, 2025, my husband and I got the terrifying news that our son has Transposition of the Great Arteries, otherwise known as TGA. This is a severe heart condition that must be operated on soon after birth, otherwise the baby will not survive. Unfortunately, there is not an option for treatment in Tunisia - if he were to be born there, he would not live.

So a week later, at 24 weeks pregnant with twins (nearly the size of a 40 week pregnant lady with a single baby), I got on a plane (sadly without my husband) to the US, where my son could get the care he needs. Photo is me in a wheelchair saying goodbye to my in-laws in Tunisia, about to be wheeled off to the plane, as I could barely walk due to how pregnant I was. I was sobbing but tried to smile for the photo.

Since then, I have spent weeks in and out of the hospital, with fears of premature labor, confirmed gestational diabetes, and later confirmed pre-eclampsia. During this time, my husband has been forced to remain in Africa, and has only been able to support me over the phone. This was the scariest part of my life that I have lived so far.

The babies came unexpectedly at 33 weeks - about a month early -due to my having severe pre-eclampsia, which would have ended all of our lives if the doctors had not acted quickly and delivered me that day.

Due to being born early, both babies ended up in NICUs - two different NICUs at two different hospitals. I have been splitting my time between visiting them at their respective hospitals, and have been counting down the days until my son can get his surgery. It has been nerve wracking, and I have been a mess. It feels terrible to go back home without your babies in your arms.

Now, we anxiously await our son's surgery, as his sister grows in the other NICU.

We are both taking large amounts of time off of work, and have had to spend a considerable amount of money purchasing plane tickets, as well as baby supplies for both countries, etc. This time period is incredibly stressful and frightening, and any donation would help.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Cadence and Shadi