Twin Transfusion Syndrome

September 2003 is a date that has impacted my life in various ways. Every person is a book in process, we have a beginning, make critical choices, have a climax, but with no wonder how it will completely end. When I was six years old, I didn’t realize I was going to start my American Dream. I was not aware that I was leaving my love ones, my best friend, and my house to live in a country where I knew and had nothing. Crossing the scorching deserts in the middle of the night, I had no idea my life was actually going to change for the better. Being brought from Mexico, I was directly enrolled in Pactolus Elementary School in North Carolina without any basic knowledge of the English language. As a new student, I was afraid to speak because I did not know

What I consider to be the single most important event of my life occurred in November. That was the day my very non-typical baby brother came into my life and forever changed my view. My brother Russ is a crucial part of my being and in many ways has helped to shape my life. Russ began life with almost complete deafness and remained in his silent world until the age of three. He has also been diagnosed with an Attention Deficit Disorder, Visual Perception Deficiencies, and motor skill weaknesses. Russ required additional assistance in even the simplest activities as he struggled daily to master age appropriate skills. His disabilities have greatly influenced my role as an older sibling. Russ has definitely taught

April 21, 2016 the day my life changed forever, the day nothing would ever be the same again. To everyone else it was just another day they were living in. On this day I would have spinal fusion surgery to correct the 60 degree curve in my back with two rods, and twenty-four screws. Everything would change for me during my four hours of surgery. The way I walked, the way I appeared to everyone, I wouldn't have the same balance, and most importantly nobody would talk about me anymore. These were all things I had to deal with for two years. I’ve learned from it that I’m a stronger person for putting up with it, and not letting it get to me all the time. Even if some days were harder than other days.

Going back in time, memories of an eventful day during my junior year in high school remains a historical change in my life. December 5, 2014, remains to this day as one of the most impactful days of my life; it was the day of

There has been many important events that have occurred since I have been born but there is one in particular that has sparked a light in me that has changed the way i have looked at things. It happened when I was playing with the Sacramento FC and everything was going well until the middle of the season. When we got to the middle of the season things started to look shady. I wasn't getting playing time and that really opened my eyes to reality. Soccer was not the only thing that I needed to do in order to have a good life. I needed to start focusing on my dreams and different routes to success other then just soccer. It really showed what I need to do in order to survive in the real world. If it was not for my family's support through this

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a rare disease occurring in 10-15% of monochorionic-diamniotic twin gestations in which vascular connections are shared between the fetuses via a common placenta1, 2, 3. A theoretical imbalance in the vascular distribution creates a shift in circulation causing one fetus to receive a surplus in volume, the recipient, and the other to be deficient, the donor4, 5. TTTS can present at any gestational age6 and can progress in severity causing significant morbidity, especially to the recipient, and even demise of one or both twins1, 2, 6. Classic ultrasonic markers of TTTS have been well-described as an amniotic fluid imbalance between the twins2. Several staging systems have been

important event in my life that changed it all was the day that I met my wonderful husband, PJ.

When I was one and a half another less of a miracle was born my sister Elizabeth. At first we were inseparable but over the years we have grown apart.

A significant moment in my life is when my dad had to get open heart surgery because he had a hole in his heart. This moment was very eye opening because in a matter of minutes something could go wrong and I could potentially lose my dad. Shortly after he had open heart surgery he had to get a pacemaker placed inside him that would manually pump his heart. This scenario makes you appreciate the small things in life, like having a healthy heart, one that you don’t have to worry about.

The two poems I chose to connect with are Anne Bradstreet's, "In Memory of My Dear Grandchild Elizabeth Bradstreet, Who Deceased August, 1665, Being A Year and a Half Old and On Being Brought From Africa To America. In Anne Bradstreet's, "In Memory of My Dear Grandchild Elizabeth Bradstreet, Who Deceased August, 1665, Being A Year and a Half Old," nature and her notions implicatively insinuate tremendous grief of her granddaughter's death. Bradstreet simply observe nature where plants and fruits grow and die in a comparison with her grandchild's death (p.121-122) And time brings down what is both strong and tall.

Two of the greatest days of my life were the days my daughters were born. The first time I held the both of them and gazed into their eyes I felt a sense of relief and hope. The feeling is a warm tingling sensation that engulfed my entire body. The emotions that I felt are beyond what words can explain. It’s amazing to me that in the first few minutes of their lives they completely changed my perception of the world.

During my placement at the Liverpool Women’s Hospital for my obstetrics and gynecology, I attended a clinic specifically dealing with multiple pregnancies. One of the patients (Miss X) was referred to the clinic to have a routine ultraound scan. She attended the scan with her partner and parents. Her last scan had identified that the amniotic fluid surrounding each foetus was unequal; a possible indication of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). The specialist nurse conducting the scan was known to the family since she had delivered the mother herself, thus there was a level of trust and raport between the family and the specialist nurse. The ultrasound scan revealed that the amniotic fluid surrounding the foetuses was still unequal, and

It was my birthday. Two things that I never thought would happen. One was me getting a chocolate lab I named Hazel,the second was losing a loved one.These two thing happened on one day that I will love and hate for the rest of my life.

A life-changing event is not something to be taken lightly. Throughout our lives, we encounter many obstacles and changes, some of which bring us joy and excitement, others of which may be hard for us to handle. When I look back on my relatively short life, it may, at first, be hard for me to think of an event that has truly molded and shaped the person that I am today. I have encountered several changes, but at the time, they felt like mere speed bumps along my path. Looking back now, it is easy for me to see that these changes were not by chance, but were placed in my path to form the person that I am today.

There are many different life changing events that can change your life. Sometimes things happen in people’s life and they can’t do anything about it. Changes can be good and sometimes it can be a terrible thing that results in a positive turn in one’s life. Change is a part of life that no one looks forward to. Everyone’s life changes at some point. Life is full of many unexpected challenges that will be thrown in your face at any place and any time. People learn and grow from every experience that they go through in life. Some of the events that have changed my life was losing my grandmother, graduation, and going to college. Changes come almost every day in my life.