Twin brothers had just 30 per cent chance of survival but are now thriving

At a 13-week scan, doctors told Lala Langtry White her identical twin sons were suffering with twin to twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a rare condition where one twin gets too much of the blood supply, while the other twin is effectively starved of nutrients.

Identical twins Arto, left, and Digby. Courtesy Langtry White family

ABU DHABI // Curled up side-by-side, twin brothers Digby and Arto are the picture of health.

The eight-month-old identical twins are considered miracle babies after they were saved by laser surgery while in utero – despite being given a 30 per cent chance of survival.

After a scan at 13 weeks, doctors told Lala Langtry White her identical twins were suffering twin to twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a rare condition where one child gets too much blood supply, while the other is starved. The condition only affects identical twins who share a placenta.

“I felt like I was being handed a death sentence,” said the 34-year-old Briton.

“I had heard about TTTS but you don’t think it is going to happen to you.”

Doctors told Ms Langtry White – already the mother of two children – that her unborns’ condition had progressed to stage 2.

Smaller twin Digby was at risk of dehydration and not developing properly, while Arto was receiving a far greater share of the blood, causing high blood pressure and putting a strain on his heart. In many cases, that is deadly for both twins.

Effectively, Digby was being “wrapped in cling film” by his membrane, said Ms Langtry White, while Arto was showing signs of heart failure because of the excess fluid.

Doctors advised her to undergo laser ablation surgery in the womb to give each baby a 30 per cent chance of survival.

“The odds were stacked against me. But you are not pregnant with twins to come away with one baby.”

During the operation, surgeons inserted a camera into the womb and used lasers to pinpoint the blood vessel connections between the twins and cut and sealed them, so both babies receive a more equal volume.

The operation was a success but Ms Langtry White admitted feeling fear throughout most of her pregnancy that something else would go wrong.

“Having twins is so special. I was desperate for it to be a success,” she said. “Had I lost those boys I would have felt robbed.”

However, at 33 weeks Arto and Digby were born healthy.

Ms Langtry White said she would like to raise awareness of TTTS and has since set up the first peer support group in the region specifically for those who have experienced or are at risk of the condition.

For more information, visit Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome Parents - Arabia on Facebook or email [e-mail].