Jada & Kali
My Tiny Miracle Twins entered the world at 28 weeks. What started as a routine OBGYN appointment at my doctor’s office, resulted in going to Norwalk hospital for monitoring of my blood pressure and having to stay overnight. Being pregnant and knowing you are having twins, you become aware of all the scary things that are associated with a twin pregnancy. We always hope we are the exception and will carry full term with no issues, only to find out that Twin B was significantly smaller than Twin A and I would need to now transfer to Danbury hospital for further care and monitoring. I found out that I would be bedridden until my delivery. How can this be? I arrived at Danbury Hospital and made friends with the nurses, who are now family. Every day I memorized my schedule for medications, sonograms and fetal monitoring as well as memorizing the doctor’s schedule . Ten days in Antepartum care will drive you crazy! I decided to take a positive outlook and make the most out of it. During my stay, I met Marisela from TTMF, who spoke to me about the foundation and the support they not only give to babies but to parents as well. My husband got to attend a TTMF Dad meet up prior to our twins arriving. This was amazing for him to have open and honest dialogue about raising preemies. Honestly, I thought “I won’t need TTMF, I’m going full term with these babies.”
On January 25th, my blood pressure had been high all day, even with the administration of medicine, I couldn’t get it under control. By 12am on January 26th, my doctor decided it was time to deliver and at 3:33am my twin 28 week girls entered the world. Navigating the NICU is difficult and extremely intimidating. TTMF gave so much emotional support and knowledge about navigating the NICU. The mentors made us feel so welcome and warm. Knowing there are families out there that have traveled on this very same journey was comforting. My husband and I did not know anyone that had preemies prior to getting to know the Tiny Miracles families. At the time of our girls’ arrival, I did not have a car to go back and forth to the hospital & my husband had to go back to work. TTMF was so gracious to help with providing UBER gift cards for my 45 minute travel to and from the hospital to see our girls. During their NICU stay, we were checked on by both Elizabeth and Marisela and provided with resources, snack bags and sometimes just a simple hug.
Fast forward to 32 weeks when one of my twins needed to be transferred to CCMC in Hartford. By this time thankfully, I purchased a car and TTMF transferred my UBER gift cards into gas cards so that I could afford the travel between home and the two hospitals every day. I truly cannot thank TTMF enough, the support even after the NICU has been amazing. I am a working Mom so the calls and texts that I received from Marisela reminding me to slow down and stop for a minute were much needed. No one ever tells you how hard that last day in the NICU is, the day you go home. So many emotions are running through you. Elizabeth was there for our last morning in the NICU as we waited to be discharged and gave such encouraging words that made us confident in this next chapter. Donations of diapers and clothes awaited us at 39 weeks when we finally went home thanks to TTMF. We have even been to a workshop that talks about preemie care after the NICU, which are great ways to socialize amongst other preemie families. I am so blessed that my preemie twins are so loved! Now, my girls not only have a bunch of NICU & Antepartum family but a huge Tiny Miracles family as well.
Jada and Kali in the NICU.
Jada and Kali’s 1st birthday in 2020.
