Marelda and Matylda relief fund
Donation protected
This Relief Fund is for our family affected by extreme complications. My name is Justin Sky Diggs, MarLayna Jensen is the mother of Marelda and Matylda. Our two unborn identical twin girls that have been battling for survival most of the pregnancy.
We are reaching out for support to anyone moved by our story.
On Mother's Day of all days, my lady MarLayna and I found out we would be having a child. The day of the first ultrasound came and the surprises didn't stop when we saw that two babies were growing inside her!!! With twins comes twice the morning sickness, twice the cravings, and twice the mood swings Haha!
These all seemed like tough challenges but as the days passed the challenges would become more difficult.
By the 16th week of pregnancy our twins were diagnosed with TTTS ; ( twin to twin transfusion syndrome ) a rare complication that affects the growth of the babies. Left untreated, the mortality rate is somewhere near 100%.
We were flown out to Denver to the Children's Hospital of Colorado several days later.
After extensive testing and scans, they were staged at 3C... the stage just before the demise of one or both twins. Marlayna was immediately scheduled for a life-saving surgery for our girls and the next day she was on the operating table.
A team of specialized doctors inserted an endoscopic camera and a fiber optic laser into the amniotic sac where they proceeded to cauterize blood vessels shared between the two twins. This model surgery was a massive success! Our girls were saved and we were given the clear to return home.
To receive better Medical Care we decided to move to Portland Oregon, home of Oregon Health and Sciences University.
We took off across the country in my trusty camper van stopping at the most beautiful places along the way. Five days and 2300 miles later, we arrived in Portland. One journey came to a close and the next began!
After briefly settling into our new place, marlaynas amniotic sac ruptured causing her to lose crucial amniotic fluid. We rushed to OHSU where marlayna was admitted and is currently under their care. Since her water is ruptured, the biggest risk to the girls is that could be born very premature.
It has been almost two weeks now and the days have proved to be some of the toughest days of our lives. With anticipation heavy on the heart, MarLayna and I will remain in the hospital 24/7.
Full gestation of a twin baby is 36 weeks. As I write this MarLayna is 24 weeks and 5 days pregnant. It is the 23rd of September today. 25 weeks will mark our next goal met. Every day provides crucial growth for our tiny unborn babies.
Our main goal right now is 32 weeks. Day by day our babies grow stronger and in less need of external care on their birthday!
When Marelda and Matylda are strong enough and ready for the trip, we plan to return to the place MarLayna and I met... A magical Hawaiian island... One that our girls will grow and learn from. Or maybe I should say "teach".
Already, they have taught us to have faith when times are uncertain and to believe in one another. We are all a team that rely on each other.
I'm asking you to be on our team as well.
As we continue this journey, we'll do so knowing miracles happen.
We are reaching out for support to anyone moved by our story.
On Mother's Day of all days, my lady MarLayna and I found out we would be having a child. The day of the first ultrasound came and the surprises didn't stop when we saw that two babies were growing inside her!!! With twins comes twice the morning sickness, twice the cravings, and twice the mood swings Haha!
These all seemed like tough challenges but as the days passed the challenges would become more difficult.
By the 16th week of pregnancy our twins were diagnosed with TTTS ; ( twin to twin transfusion syndrome ) a rare complication that affects the growth of the babies. Left untreated, the mortality rate is somewhere near 100%.
We were flown out to Denver to the Children's Hospital of Colorado several days later.
After extensive testing and scans, they were staged at 3C... the stage just before the demise of one or both twins. Marlayna was immediately scheduled for a life-saving surgery for our girls and the next day she was on the operating table.
A team of specialized doctors inserted an endoscopic camera and a fiber optic laser into the amniotic sac where they proceeded to cauterize blood vessels shared between the two twins. This model surgery was a massive success! Our girls were saved and we were given the clear to return home.
To receive better Medical Care we decided to move to Portland Oregon, home of Oregon Health and Sciences University.
We took off across the country in my trusty camper van stopping at the most beautiful places along the way. Five days and 2300 miles later, we arrived in Portland. One journey came to a close and the next began!
After briefly settling into our new place, marlaynas amniotic sac ruptured causing her to lose crucial amniotic fluid. We rushed to OHSU where marlayna was admitted and is currently under their care. Since her water is ruptured, the biggest risk to the girls is that could be born very premature.
It has been almost two weeks now and the days have proved to be some of the toughest days of our lives. With anticipation heavy on the heart, MarLayna and I will remain in the hospital 24/7.
Full gestation of a twin baby is 36 weeks. As I write this MarLayna is 24 weeks and 5 days pregnant. It is the 23rd of September today. 25 weeks will mark our next goal met. Every day provides crucial growth for our tiny unborn babies.
Our main goal right now is 32 weeks. Day by day our babies grow stronger and in less need of external care on their birthday!
When Marelda and Matylda are strong enough and ready for the trip, we plan to return to the place MarLayna and I met... A magical Hawaiian island... One that our girls will grow and learn from. Or maybe I should say "teach".
Already, they have taught us to have faith when times are uncertain and to believe in one another. We are all a team that rely on each other.
I'm asking you to be on our team as well.
As we continue this journey, we'll do so knowing miracles happen.
Organizer
Justin Sky Diggs
Organizer
Portland, OR
