“Congratulations, you’re having twins, identical twins!” the doctor told my sister Siobhan and brother-in-law Sean Dixon at the first ultrasound of their pregnancy. The excitement of having twin baby girls can be overwhelming to parents -for so many reasons! Visions of matching dresses and pre-teen squabbles danced in their heads. Their first concern was to be able to tell them apart!

Those dreams became seriously complicated in early December when the OB/GYN diagnosed the babies with TTTS (twin-twin transfusion syndrome), a rare condition where the blood flows unequally between the twins, who share a placenta. Simply put, one baby (Baby B) gets too much blood, too much amniotic fluid, and produces too much urine, which can cause heart and/or kidney failure. The other twin (Baby A) receives too little blood, produces a low or absent amount of amniotic fluid, and produces an inadequate amount of urine. This can result in a small or absent bladder and heart damage.

Suddenly, Siobhan’s pregnancy was considered to be very high risk. She would need to have life saving surgery. Left untreated, the syndrome is fatal for both mom and babies. The Dixon’s were immediately sent to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, one of only a handful of medical centers in the country that perform this complicated in utero surgery.

At first examination, the Dixon Duo’s condition was reported to be less than Stage 1 (out of 5 Stages). Relieved, Siobhan and Sean went home to celebrate Christmas with their 2 year old daughter Saoirse, with orders to return for a check up in two weeks.

Two weeks later, Siobhan called from Philly crying. The babies had progressed to Stage 3 and surgery had been scheduled for the next day! Through tears she described how surgeons would use a laparoscopic laser to enter the placenta and disconnect shared blood vessels. The delicate procedure went well, and doctors removed 2 liters of excess amniotic fluid, much to the relief of a totally uncomfortable mother. The Dixons felt relief the surgery was over and doctors have been very optimistic about the progress of Baby A and Baby B.

It’s back to Philadelphia on January 19th for what they hope is the last visit with the specialists. Baby A now weighs 14 ounces and has increased her amniotic fluid four fold. Baby B tops the scales at a whopping one pound!

The Dixon Duo have been quite a handful already and they have 14 weeks to go. That’s why I’m asking for your help to raise $10,000 for my baby sister Siobhan, Sean, and their 3 daughters. Many of you already know our adorable niece Saoirse from her own on-line presence. Watching her grow up has brought smiles to family and friends everywhere.

The financial toll of surgery, travel and accommodations, subsequent quarantines, weeks of bed rest, copays for weekly prenatal doctor appointments, specialized testing, and lost wages have placed a heavy financial burden on this young family. The hospital bill alone topped $100,000, and with local HMO coverage, to be billed at an Out of Network rate will be devastating.

The Dixon and Hogan families are so grateful for the outpouring of support- prayers, well wishes and good vibes. The year 2020 has been trying for all of us, and we know not everyone is in a position to be able to give at this time. Sean and Siobhan didn’t want to ask for help, but I started this fundraiser so that anyone who is able and willing to support the Dixons during this extremely difficult time can do so.

Thank you and God Bless!