Meet the Twins

Saturday December 28, 2013


Marcello Cristian

Marcello Cristian was born first and weighed 1 lb 6 oz. and Manuel Gabriel was born second 


Manuel Gabriel

weighing 1 lb 2 oz. Most of Saturday early morning was spent getting them on the ventilators and stabilized. When they were born they were given a 6% survival rate. Dr. Wareham came in and said they had them intubated and the umbilical lines were in for both. There would be three factors that they will be monitoring on them: 1. Lung function 2. Cranial bleeding and 3. Blood pressure / Kidney functions. He also mentioned that both would eventually require blood transfusions and that they are also on antibiotics. The next 4 days will be critical and if they make it past that then their chances for survival are increased. We continue to lift them in prayer for a positive outcome. Manuel is the fiesty one as he kicked out his umbilical line. Once Jodi was done with recovery, we were allowed to see them. Pastor Currao conducted their baptism that night and we got to spend some time with them. The Neonatal teams met with us at their bedsides and explained all that they had gone through earlier that night. You can see that they are both under phototherapy lights and wearing their goggles. This light is used to treat their bilirubin and aid in their skin development.  They are also connected to High Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation that will help in their lung development. Manuel was the first to get a blood transfusion because his hematocrit levels were low and Marcello followed not too longer after with his own transfusion. We were visited by the Nurse Practitioner, the Neonatoligist, and one of their nurses and were told that they had run an ultrasound on the twins and thought they had seen signs of cerebral hemorrhaging in both Marcello and Manuel but are waiting on the official report from the Pediatric Radiologist. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.

Marcello and Manuel's Arrival

Friday December 27, 2013



Neonatal Emergency Ambulances from St Vincent

Helicopter Medical Unit

Jodi awoke this morning with strong contractions and we immediately went to Columbus Regional Hospital (CRH) where they found that she was too far along to stop the delivery.  We had been seeing Dr Hiett (Medical Director Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist) from St Vincent's Women's Hospital in Indianapolis because we were diagnosed with having Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome.  CRH had immediately contacted St Vincent's Women's Hospital and St Vincent sent over two Neonatal Intensive Care Units to CRH to stabilize and transport the boys if they were to be delivered in Columbus.  After Jodi had not delivered for several hours the decision was made to airlift her from CRH to St Vincent's Women's Hospital. She was loaded in the Helicopter Unit for the 20 minute flight. Upon arrival Jodi was re-examined and found to have had no change in her status since leaving CRH.  St Vincent's tried everything to stop the labor but Jodi continued to progress. Pastor Andrew Currao was with us and said a prayer for guidance. At 10 pm we met with Dr. Hiett to go over our options for delivery and it was then that we made the decision to have a controlled c-section that night, providing us with the best window for survival of the twins.  Three medical teams were assembled for the delivery; one for Jodi, one for Marcello, and one for Manuel.  At 11:30, Jodi was taken back into surgery with me there for the delivery. Dr Heitt did an amniocentesis, and then proceeded with the c-section. The boys were born on December 27, 2013 at 11:53 PM EST with Marcello being born first and Manuel second. They were born extremely premature at 23 weeks and 2 days gestation. They both whimpered when they were born and that was the most beautiful sound we had heard that night. They were immediately taken by the Neonatologists and they were able to get them intubated and get their umbilical lines started.

Video of Helicopter Medical Unit