IT WAS a bitter sweet moment when a new mum finally got to bring her baby home for the first time on New Year’s Eve two months after his twin died in hospital.
At eight weeks pregnant, Abbygale Tighe, 23, was diagnosed with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a life-threatening condition that affects around ten per cent of identical twins who share a placenta.
Abbygale received treatment called amnioreduction which involved draining excess amniotic fluid from the womb, but just four days later the fluid began to build up again.
Abbygale said: “They took three litres of amniotic fluid but after it came back the doctor told me that I needed to have a C-section.”
Abbygale, of Simons Way, Wombwell, gave birth to identical twin boys via C-section on September 25 at 25 weeks 15 weeks early.
Harrison weighed 2lb 2oz and Ellison weighed only 1lb 1oz.
Abbygale said: “At first I was really scared to go see them because I didn’t know how they’d look with them being so small from being born so early.
“I was really scared when I saw them but a motherly bond took over me straight away.
“It was mixed emotions because I loved them straight away and I was happy to see them but sad because they were so small.”
At five weeks old on October, 30, Ellison died after his bowels stopped working.
Abbygale said: “I think I was aware he wasn’t going to make it. During his five weeks’ life he had two operations.
“The first one was on his bowels and it seemed to go well, he recovered from that OK but two weeks after that it got infected and he was swollen.
“He couldn’t open his eyes because of the swelling. He had another operation but when they looked inside there was nothing they could do.
“His bowels had died, they just weren’t working anymore.
“An ambulance came to get us and took us to see him and that’s when they told me he wasn’t going to make it.”
Abbygale buried Ellison with her granddad and has created a memory box to show Harrison when he is older.
Harrison remained in hospital until New Year’s Eve when Abbygale was told she could finally take him home.
He now weighs 7lb 14oz and is recovering well.
She said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic to have my baby home. He’s doing absolutely fantastic.
“He’s still very small, clothes wise, and is only just filling tiny baby sizes but its a big improvement to the premature ones he wore.
“He’s a little bit unsettled because there are more noises and more smells and everyone wanting to pick him up and have cuddles but he’s doing really well.”
Abbygale had another surprise on New Year’s Eve when Harrison and Ellison’s dad, Ezel Papukchi, proposed before the clock struck midnight.
She said: “It was a really special night for me.
“I’m over the moon, it was a really positive way to end a really tough year. I didn’t sleep much at all because I couldn’t stop crying, it was a big day for our family.”
Abbygale’s mum Lorraine Tighe, said she couldn’t be prouder of everything she has done.
Lorraine said: “She has had such a tough year and I think she deserved to be happy on New Year’s Eve.
“We are all proud of her and it’s lovely to see Harrison at home with his mum.”
