‘Miracle’ twins Lucy and Lilly celebrate first Christmas

A Central Queensland couple are celebrating their own Christmas miracle after their premature twin baby girls finally came home after spending a combined 125 days in hospital.

Melissa and Matthew Heald, both aged 31, relocated more than 500km from their home in Gladstone to South Brisbane before welcoming their identical twin girls Lucy and Lilly on 6 September at Mater Mothers’ Hospital.

The couple, who have two older children Billie (12) and Cooper (8), moved closer to Mater’s Centre for Maternal Fetal Medicine in South Brisbane so doctors could monitor the health of their unborn babies.

Doctors advised Mrs Heald to be close to a neonatal unit in case her girls arrived unexpectedly and required medical intervention.

Mrs Heald said her daughters were born via an emergency cesarean section at 31 weeks into her pregnancy due to being in fetal distress.

Lucy was born weighing 1400 grams and spent 50 days in Mater’s Neonatal Critical Care Unit, while pint-sized Lilly weighed just 867 grams and spent 75 days in hospital.

After Lilly was born, she was diagnosed with jejunal atresia, a rare birth defect causing a blockage in her small bowel.

She underwent her first surgery at the nearby Queensland Children’s Hospital just 22 hours after birth, which Mrs Heald described as a “tense four-hour procedure that felt like an eternity”.

“Lilly’s second surgery occurred on day 64 and exceeded our expectations – she has made a full recovery,” Mrs Heald said.

“Lucy was the stronger of the two, but they both needed help with breathing and feeding issues.”

While Lilly and Lucy were still in their mother’s womb, doctors were concerned the twins had Twin Anemia Polycythemia Sequence (TAPS) and Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS), conditions that can affect identical twins when they share one placenta.

TAPS is a rare condition in which blood flows unequally between twins who share a placenta and results in one fetus having a low blood count (anaemia) and the other fetus having a high blood count (polycythemia).

Both anemia and polycythemia can be harmful to the developing babies before and after birth.

“From 18 weeks gestation, I was required to travel back and forth every fortnight from Gladstone to Brisbane, and sometimes weekly, based on the recommendations of the MFM team,” Mrs Heald said.

“By 28 weeks into my pregnancy I had to relocate to Ronald McDonald House in Brisbane.

“Although I wasn’t on bed rest, I needed to be close to the hospital as doctors monitored possible TTTS and intrauterine growth restriction, since Lilly consistently measured in the first percentile.”

Mrs Heald said there was a week when the girls’ fluid levels were borderline, however they stabilised, and surgery was not required.

“I approached my pregnancy one day at a time,” Mrs Heald revealed.

“We were informed that there was always a risk that the smaller twin, Lilly, might not survive due to her size.

“Additionally, we were cautioned that if Lilly became ill in utero, it could potentially jeopardise Lucy’s health, putting both of them at risk.”

Home for Christmas

Mrs Heald said being able to hold both her baby girls in her arms this Christmas was a dream come true and thanked Mater’s multidisciplinary team for caring for her “little miracles”.

“Each visit left us feeling reassured about our progress and wellbeing,” she said.

“Everyone took the time to ensure we understood the details of every scan and attentively listened to our concerns, making us feel valued and supported.

“To be able to have both our girls home for Christmas is really special for all of us.”

Mr and Mrs Heald said their older children are excited their little sisters are finally home to enjoy Christmas together.

“We are all so excited to celebrate Christmas at home with our entire family, including grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins,” Mrs Heald said.

“We have loved ones traveling from as far as the Northern Territory, as well as from Victoria and Mackay.

“We can’t wait to share this special occasion and create beautiful memories together as we celebrate the girls’ first Christmas with everyone.”

Every year, more than 1800 sick and premature babies like Lucy and Lilly are cared for in the Neonatal Critical Care Unit at Mater Mothers’ Hospital.