"When we found out we were having twins, we were ecstatic. Both of us are twins—my mother is a twin, and Wes’s grandfather was also a twin. The thought of continuing this special bond meant the world to us. However, at 23 weeks of gestation, during a routine echocardiogram, we received devastating news: our babies were diagnosed with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome and fetal growth restriction. Our only option was to undergo laser ablation surgery to disconnect the blood vessels in the placenta that were shared by the twins.”
The surgery was successful, but Baby A still wasn’t receiving the nutrients he needed. At the same time, I began experiencing symptoms of preeclampsia. At 27 weeks and five days, at an ultrasound, the doctors expressed concern about Baby A's lack of amniotic fluid, and his growth continued to be poor. I was admitted to the hospital, and Wes and I were told that the babies would need to be delivered in the coming days.
That day was unexpected and overwhelming. I had been dressed and ready for work, and Wes was already at work, thinking it would be a typical day. We were completely unprepared for the birth. The goal was to start a round of steroids to help the babies' lungs develop. Once in the hospital, their heart rates were closely monitored. Although there were a few dips and scares, we made it to 28 weeks and were able to complete the steroid treatment.
At 28 weeks and one day, Luke and Jaxson were born. Luke weighed two pounds and seven ounces, and Jaxson weighed one pound and ten ounces. Neither of us could hold them before they were rushed to the NICU.
Since we lived an hour away, Wes began looking at nearby hotels, knowing we would need to stay close. The next day, we booked a week at a hotel, preparing for an indefinite stay. That’s when we were approached by a hospital social worker who told us about the Ronald McDonald House. We were interested but knew it could be a long shot to get a room, and we joined the wait list.
The day after we were discharged, we went home to gather our things for what we thought would be a long hotel stay. To our surprise, the very next day, the Ronald McDonald House called us with an available room. That evening, we arrived at the House and were warmly welcomed and immediately reassured that they were there to help us every step of the way—and they truly kept that promise.
Over time, the Ronald McDonald House began to feel like home. The staff became like a second family to us. From the welcome gift when we checked in, to their constant care for Luke and Jaxson, to providing meals, and even gifts for holidays and birthdays—we couldn’t have been more thankful. The House helped ease the stress of our NICU journey in ways we couldn’t have imagined.
After 111 days in the NICU, it was time to go home—a moment which was both joyful and bittersweet. We had made lifelong friends and gained a second family. We knew this wasn’t the end of our connection with everyone at the Ronald McDonald House.
We are forever grateful to this incredible organization and the kind hearts of everyone who works there. The Ronald McDonald House will always hold a special place in our hearts.” - Jaimie and Wes