Life saving surgery allows twins to celebrate their own miracle of Christmas… at home
- Release Date: 20/12/2004
- Media Contact: Miranda Hunt 0410 417 790
After spending two months in the intensive and special care nurseries at Mater Mothers' Hospital, identical twins Jackson and Mason Bourke will be going home Monday, 20 December 2004 in time for Christmas after overcoming twin to twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) and other serious medical difficulties.
TTTS is a major complication of an identical twin pregnancy where blood from one twin is transfused to the other twin via connecting blood vessels in the shared placenta. It is a potentially lethal condition if left untreated, affecting two to three percent of all twin pregnancies (approximately 250 babies a year in Australia).
The twins received the life saving in utero fetal laser surgery at just 21 weeks gestation at Mater Mothers' Hospital, the first Hospital in Australia to perform the laser surgery technique.
The revolutionary surgery resulted from an international telemedicine link at the hospital, sponsored by telecommunications provider AAPT, which allowed medical staff to witness the procedure in real time as it was performed overseas. AAPT's sponsorship, valued at A$1 million, has been in place during the past three years.
While the surgery was successful their struggle for survival continued when their mother, Carol Ayo, was in a car accident when the twins were at 25 weeks gestation. Two weeks later her water broke and then an infection developed, so doctors had no choice but to deliver the twins via an emergency caesarean on 21 October 2004.
Jackson weighed just 1120 grams while his brother Mason weighed 1248 grams.
Jackson in particular was given little hope of survival after his lung collapsed and he contracted an infection. He defied all the odds, much to the relief of his parents.
"After Jackson was delivered, we were told to prepare ourselves as it didn't look like he was going to make it through the night, but he kept fighting and managed to pull through," explained Carol.
"We cannot thank the doctors and nurses enough at Mater for giving me two healthy babies to take home. We are very lucky—and just in time for Christmas too," Carol said.