A woman has shared the story of losing her unborn twins, in a bid to raise awareness of a condition called Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome.
Vienna Girardi, best known in the States for starring in a series of The Bachelor, took to Facebook this week to share her experience.
Admitting that her post was ‘the hardest thing she has ever had to write’, the 31-year-old recounted how her pregnancy took a turn during a scan on August 3.
Vienna’s perinatologist noticed that one of her twins had more fluids than the other. They were diagnosed with TTTS, a condition that occurs where one twin takes more nutrients than the other.
That evening, Vienna’s water broke when the twins’ amniotic sacs ruptured, and she spent the next two days in hospital trying to save them.
“The doctor had warned me that if I did not go into labour and deliver the babies, I was taking the chance of risking my own life and causing an infection in my uterus – but they could not survive at only 18 weeks,” she explained.
“They also said that there was a very slim chance – under 5 per cent – that the babies could survive, and the fluids in their amniotic sacs replenish themselves. So, as any mother would do, I did everything to save them – but their hearts stopped beating on day two, which is also when I went into a septic shock with 104 fever.”
Tragically, Vienna’s ‘little angels went to Heaven’ on August 5. Vienna, herself, was rushed in for emergency surgery and wound up in ICU for four days.
Naturally, Vienna is devastated, but she took the brave decision to share her story in a bid to help other mothers going through the same thing.
“After days of lying in bed, heartbroken and trying to piece what happened back together, a doctor asked me if I would consider donating my little girls to science so they can also understand why this happens, and be able to save another woman who has twins with TTTS.
“This was the hardest decision I have ever had to make in my life, but I knew my little girls were in Heaven already; and the pain I feel, I would never want any mother to ever feel.”
Vienna’s post was met with a wave of supportive and loving messages from people all over the world.
We’re thinking of Vienna at this tragic time. We have so much respect for her, for sharing her story.
