• Who is Kat Biggie?
    • My Other Sites
  • Kathryn’s Story
  • My Books
    • Lose the Cape
    • Meltdowns Book
  • Products I Recommend
    • Product Reviews
    • Book Reviews
  • My Writing Elsewhere…
    • My Writing
    • I Have Guest Posted Here!
    • Advertise/PR
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Find Me Here!

No Holding Back

Living With Purpose

  • Momvocate
    • Children’s Health
    • Motherhood
    • March of Dimes
    • activism
    • Call to Action
    • ADD/ADHD
    • TTTS
    • Maternal Health
    • Newborn Health
    • Prematurity
    • Do Good Feel Good
      • Philanthropy
      • Social Good
  • Healthy Body
    • Children’s Health
    • Health
      • Gluten Free
      • Recipes
    • Fitness
    • Healthy Environment
      • green living
    • TTTS
  • Healthy Mind
    • Healthy Mind
    • Depression
    • Healthy Spirit
  • Grief/Bereavement Support
    • grief
      • Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month
    • infant loss

Zachary and Alex’s story {TTTS Tuesday}

October 29, 2013 By katbiggie 2 Comments

As is the case with many of the TTTS moms I have become friends with, I met Wendy through the TTTS Grief Support Group, or maybe it was the Survivors with Guardian Angels. Either way, we both lost one twin and got to take one twin home. Wendy has taken her story and written a book – called “Toughest Teeniest Twin Soldiers” and I am actually in the process of reading it and can’t wait to share my review! So far, so good!

As I was putting together this post and looking at Wendy’s pictures, I just really marveled at the picture of her holding baby Zachary in the NICU. Even though I had a baby myself that was essentially the same weight, it is just still so shocking to see pictures that really demonstrate how TINY a 1lb baby is!

Wendy shares her story with us for TTTS Tuesday this week! Please read it, comment if you’d like, and share it! Awareness saves lives!

Zachary and Alex

An Abbreviated “Toughest Teeniest Twin Soldiers”

By Wen Smith

Three years ago began the shock of our lives with the news: we’re carrying identical twins! Less than a month later, we were diagnosed with Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome. It was St Patrick’s Day when our perinatal specialist decided to refer us to U.S.C. for intervention because he felt our case of TTTS was severe enough for laser surgery. I can remember sitting there in the lobby nervously playing with my green jewelry; consumed by such an intense fear of the unknown. My back ached so badly and I was so scared. As the doctor spoke with us, tears streamed down my cheeks. The thought of traveling out of town to try and save our unborn babies terrified me. The thought of losing these babies terrified me even more.

On March 22nd, we met Dr Chmait and his amazing team for the first time. And although we did have TTTS, it was not severe enough to risk the surgery. (Incidentally, our twin niece and nephew were born this very day: Maddison and Mitchell.) Now, fast forward a week later and we’re back at Dr Chmait’s. Our TTTS has gotten much worse. Baby Alex is critical and Baby Zachary is “stuck” with no visible bladder.

Although we underwent laser surgery to save our boys (this was on April Fool’s Day, 2010 and was the most amazing experience of my lifetime [aside from giving birth]); sadly, Baby A(lex) passed away three weeks later due to heart failure. This is a moment I will never forget. No person should ever have to experience that shock and anguish. Alexander will always be our little angel. April 21, 2010 will always be remembered as “Alex’s Angelversary”. I carried the twins for five more weeks before preterm labor awakened me on the morning of May 28th, 2010. I drove myself to the hospital, and our twins were delivered emergently at 28 weeks. One fighter was born into the NICU (Zachary Alexander) and his angel twin rose to Heaven. And our lives will never be the same…

Zach and wen

photo

Three years later, our survivor, who weighed only 1lb 11oz at birth, is going through potty training and is a constant source of laughter and joy. He excels at everything he does, although he does have special needs, but you could never tell. We are all the more blessed to have an older son who is incredibly smart and funny as well. We call him “Big Ben”. The bond these brothers share is beyond anything I’ve ever imagined: doing everything together; and sure, they fight, but wow, their love for another is unimaginable and is without end. They laugh at each other and it’s like they have some secret language nobody else understands.

Zachary

 In 2011, I published a short book, “Toughest Teeniest Twin Soldiers: Living & Dying Through TTTS” because I really felt compelled to tell our story. I hope you’ll check it out if you haven’t already.

Furthermore, it has become very important to me to reach out to other families so they know they are not alone. Today I also feel very fortunate to work in healthcare where I have the opportunity to reach out to others, including medical professionals as well as various families who may not have even heard of TTTS. I proudly wear my TTTS swag and talk about it whenever I can. I love it when people ask me to talk about it. It used to feel strange, but now, I feel proud! I’m proud of my survivor and I’m proud of the friends I’ve made since our lives have been touched by TTTS. And I’m even proud to say that I have a precious angel twin. This angel has even graced me with visits on two occasions when I’ve hit my rock bottom.

Which leads me to my next point: I’m not going to act like I don’t feel emotional and ripped off when I see twins. It reminds me of what I was “supposed to have”. And sometimes I find myself extremely annoyed by twins in matching outfits (what’s up with that anyway; please enlighten me?)! But more than anything, I am feeling blessed. Because Zachary was the twin nobody expected to survive. And look at him today: he’s thriving! His charming personality earned him the nickname “The Mayor of Las Vegas” at a very young age! Even as a teeny infant with oxygen tubing in his nose, his smile and laughter were contagious. So this is what we celebrate today. We know his brother is still with us. That box on the shelf with his ashes is just a memorial. And someday, we’ll all be together again. Meanwhile, we’re singing and dancing and playing and loving and laughing our way through lives—

In fact, I participate in a bereavement support group for baby loss families called “Healing Hearts Giving Hope”. Tonight, I listened intently as one of the moms shared this beautiful reality: Someone asked her if she’d do it all over again, and even though it caused her excruciating pain, the baby she lost also brought her intense joy!! She would never forget how active he was in the womb and what a show off he was during all the ultrasounds. She experienced awful guilt thinking maybe she could have prevented his death, but now, years later, she is at peace. He is part of her family. Wow! And another mom had her son’s NICU bracelet tattooed to her wrist in white ink. So much raw and heart-wrenching beauty and I’m so grateful I have such a network of amazing families to share this with. I could go on and on, but for now, that is all…

facebook_1535326823

With hugs and kisses from our twins to yours!! ~Wen

**Thank you so much for sharing our abbreviated TTTS story. I invite you to “Like” our Facebook page for “Toughest Teeniest Twin Soldiers: Living & Dying Through TTTS by W.R. Smith”.

 

**Disclosure – there are affiliate links in this post. If you purchase the book through the links above, your price will not be any different, but Amazon will give me a teeny tiny thank you for sending business their way.

Related articles
  • How Many Kids Do You Have?
Enhanced by Zemanta

Related Posts

  • Micah and Spencer’s StoryMicah and Spencer’s Story
  • Cameron and Cole {TTTS Tuesday}Cameron and Cole {TTTS Tuesday}
  • Crew and Dex’s TTTS Story + Teeny TearsCrew and Dex’s TTTS Story + Teeny Tears
  • Understanding TTTSUnderstanding TTTS
  • Those Quiet MomentsThose Quiet Moments
  • Kathryn and Tiny’s Twin to Twin Transfusion StoryKathryn and Tiny’s Twin to Twin Transfusion Story
  • Author
  • Recent Posts

katbiggie

Freelance writer at Kat Biggie Press
Alexa B, who blogs as "Kat Biggie" is a wife, mother, and writer. She has three children and one in heaven. She recently self published a book entitled "Sunshine After the Storm: A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother" which is available on Amazon. She blogs about life after the loss of one of her twin daughters to TTTS, motherhood, all things parenting, advocacy, grief support and social good.

Latest posts by katbiggie (see all)

  • What to say when a baby dies ; words of comfort - October 31, 2019
  • Try listening to her, not fixing her – October 15th - October 15, 2019
  • Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Book Bundle - October 3, 2019

katbiggie on Google+

Related

Filed Under: TTTS Tuesday Tagged With: single loss, single survivor, twinless twin

Comments

  1. regina says

    August 2, 2014 at 8:32 pm

    Hi. I wanted to contact you. My miracle girls were born in feb 2014 after we were dx with ttts at 16 wks. My Kennedy also had a collapsed bladder and i had laser surgery on my birthday. Oddly enough, my girls were born on their dads birthday. I just started reading your book and im so terribly sorry for your loss. I must say though, even though i have both of my girls, reading your account makes me remember vividly all of the scariness and pain that comes with this dx. Also, i would often talk to them while i was pregnant and tell them we were going to battle. Such a fitting metaphor. Thank you so much for getting the word ouy.

    Reply
    • katbiggie says

      August 8, 2014 at 10:19 pm

      Thank you Regina! I really appreciate that comment and hearing about your story. I am so glad to hear that your girls are both here with us! I will pass along your comments to Wendy!
      xo, Alexa

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

You Liked These Best

  • Words To Say When A Baby DiesWords To Say When A Baby Dies If you're here, you're probably struggling for the right words…
  • From Couch to 10K in one month!From Couch to 10K in one month! Yes, you read that right. Couch to 10K in one…
  • Let Them GrieveLet Them Grieve My husband hit it right on the head today. "I…
  • Does preschool really need to be a fashion show?Does preschool really need to be a fashion show? Every day we walk into preschool and I try to…
  • I Did Not Medicate my Child Because I am a "Lazy Parent" - Recognizing Signs of Mental Health Issues in ChildrenI Did Not Medicate my Child Because I am a… Mental Health Issues in Children are a Real Issue May…

Don’t Miss a Post!

If You Enjoyed This, Please Sign Up for my Posts (It's Free!)

Find me here!

Facebook

Facebook

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Follow me on Instagram

Instagram

The Mother of All Meltdowns

Encouragement for Grieving Mothers

Get Sponsored by Big Brands

What You Said

  • katbiggie on Stories from the TTTS Trenches {Jackalyn and Alexa}
  • Marsha on Stories from the TTTS Trenches {Jackalyn and Alexa}
  • Liveitthebest on I Did Not Medicate my Child Because I am a “Lazy Parent” – Recognizing Signs of Mental Health Issues in Children
  • Trans4orm on Garcenia Cambogia: Miracle Weight Loss Solution??
  • Alden Smith on 6 sites with fun activities for kids

Search

Advocacy baby loss babyloss books children children's health depression Encouragement FEATURED Fitness Grief grieving mothers guest posts healing health infant loss Kathryn love March for Babies March of Dimes Mental Health Miscarriage Mom Connection mommy blog mommy blogs mommyblogs motherhood Mothers Day Neonatal intensive care unit NICU Novel Publicity Novel Publicity Blog Tours organization Preemie Pregnancy Preterm birth TTTS TTTS Angels TTTS Survivors Twin twinless twin twins Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome Uncategorized writing
 photo Picture44_zps250d112f.png


I'm a featured blogger on Mamapedia Voices

Categories

Blogger Babes Influencer Network

Are You Writing a Book?

Shot at Life

Shot@Life Join the Movement

I Recommend… (Affiliates)

SAVE TIME AND MONEY WITH EMEALS MEAL PLANS Ebates Coupons and Cash Back
BundleoftheWeek.com, 5 eBooks for $7.40!

Affiliates


Copyright © 2025 · Tricked out by Fabulous Blogging · WordPress · Log in