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Help two miracles into the world!

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In February Chelsea and Nick found out they were expecting. Much to their surprise, during their first ultrasound, they found out they were expecting twins! At 12 weeks they found out the babies were Monochorionic Diamniotic twins which means they share the same placenta. After that appointment, Washington Hospital referred them to West Penn hospital in Pittsburgh to be seen at 16 weeks. During the 16 week ultrasound the doctors at West Penn thought the twins had selective growth restriction and that baby A was 50% smaller in size with restricted, absent, and reverse blood flow in his umbilical cord.  Due to that the doctors referred them to Magee and Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore. The doctors at Magee felt the prognosis was poor and they were at Stage 3 selective growth restrictions. They were given three choices: A. Do nothing.  B. Terminate the smaller twin. C. Terminate the entire pregnancy.  The doctors professional opinion was to terminate the entire pregnancy. Chelsea and Nick were not satisfied with that answer and sought out a 2nd opinion.  At 17 weeks pregnant they went to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia where they were told the smaller twin was 50% smaller in size and had elevated ventricles with fluid on the brain with restricted and absent blood flow in his cord.  At this point the twins were diagnosed as Stage 2 selective growth restriction. The doctors opinion at CHOP was to do a cord occlusion which means terminating the smaller baby.  Still unsatisfied with that answer they sought out a 3rd opinion at Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore.  One day later they traveled to Johns Hopkins and the doctors there saw the same things as CHOP but said it was too soon to make a rash decision.  From there, Johns Hopkins recommended them to be monitored twice a week. Once by them and once back at home by West Penn. At 18 weeks pregnant, after having 3 different opinions, the decision was made to continue on with the pregnancy in hopes of a miracle. At 26 weeks pregnant they did a fetal MRI of the smaller twins brain in hopes of finding a cause of the elevated ventricles and fluid. The same week they also were given more bad news that the baby has a possible hole in his heart near his aorta and pulmonary valve.  At this time, the baby is still too small to find a reason for the brain and heart abnormalities. They will continue to do fetal echocardiograms and another fetal MRI at 32 weeks or when the twins are born.  To this date a total of 18 hospital trips have been made between Baltimore and Pittsburgh with approximately 12 more hospital trips to be made before a scheduled Cesarean to take place in Baltimore. The cesarean will be performed at 34 weeks pregnant. To prepare for the early birth, Chelsea has received two rounds of steroid shots to help with the development of the babies lungs.  The doctors are predicting the smaller baby to be approximately 2lbs when born and both babies  will need extensive time in the NICU. Chelsea and Nick will be uprooting their lives and temporarily leaving their jobs to live in Baltimore for an unknown amount  of time. Given the condition of the smaller baby he could possibly need multiple surgeries immediately after birth. Chelsea and Nick hope to raise enough money to be able to assist in their travels for the remaining hospital visits, to help offset medical expenses, and to be able to stay  in Baltimore until their babies are healthy and strong enough to come home.
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  • Donald McWreath
    • $125 
    • 6 yrs
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Fundraising team: Chelsea and Nick (2)

Chelsea McWreath
Organizer
Washington, PA
Nicholas Powell
Team member

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