A set of identical twins are getting ready to celebrate their first birthday after emergency in-womb surgery at 18 weeks saved their lives.
Frazer and Cole Wacey were given just a 10 per cent chance of survival after doctors discovered a fluid imbalance between the boys in the womb.
The boys’ mother, Yasmin Wacey, said that although scared, she was prepared “to do anything” to save her children.
Surgery
Doctors diagnosed the condition ‘twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome’, which is caused by abnormal connecting blood vessels in the twins’ placenta.
Surgeons at King’s College Hospital in London performed an emergency in-womb operation in order to seal off blood vessels.
Even with the surgery, there was only a 25 per cent chance of survival.
Happy and healthy
However in September last year, the boys were born healthy at 34 weeks, each weighing around 4lb.
Yasmin described her delight saying: “I think about how close we came to losing them and how amazing it is that they are doing so well.”
She added that their ordeal has not impacted their lives: “They are happy, healthy boys with so much personality.”
Britain’s law currently allows abortions up to 24 weeks. In cases where the child is deemed to have a life-affecting condition – including cleft palate – abortion is permitted up to birth.
’Thriving
Last month, twin boys born a week before the abortion limit also celebrated their first birthday.
Born at 22 weeks and 6 days, the pair were the youngest surviving premature twin boys in Britain.
Ruben and Jenson Powell are now said to be “thriving”.