Jade

A TRAP Sequence Angel

My story is different because I lost one of my babies in utero. I still delivered her at 36 weeks along with her healthy identical twin sister, Olivia.

My identical twin girls were diagnosed with TRAP sequence, a rare disorder that only occurs in identical multiples. In this condition, the healthy baby pumps blood for both herself and her sibling because they share a vascular system. Jade never developed a heart or a head, but she grew enough that I could see her kicking and moving on ultrasound. She continued to grow because she received blood from her sister, Olivia, the pump twin.

At 18 weeks, I had fetal surgery to save Olivia’s life. She was going into heart failure from supporting both of them. I carried both babies to 36 weeks, which was incredibly hard, and delivered one sleeping and one healthy.

When Jade was born, she weighed only 1.1 pounds. I could count her tiny fingers and toes. I could feel the bones in her back, legs, and arms. It was an emotional day filled with happiness and grief at the same time. This rare condition took one of my babies away. I was supposed to leave the hospital with two healthy girls. Instead, I carried one of them home in a box.

We had Jade cremated. We chose to give her name to her sister as a middle name so they would always be connected. Their names are Olivia Jade and Jade Kree.

TRAP sequence is so rare that there is little information available and no cure. Babies with this condition are not compatible with life outside the womb. Even my doctors could not answer all of my questions. I was monitored closely throughout the pregnancy with weekly growth scans and repeated heart evaluations for Olivia. Traveling to Texas for fetal surgery was one of the hardest things I have ever done, second only to delivering a baby who was already gone.

I try to bring awareness to this condition and others like it. I will always say my baby’s name and hope others do too. 💓

Available in: Footie, 2-Piece Set, Spin Dress