Help fight against Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome

Kristina's story : I fell pregnant with identical twin girls but was diagnosed with this terrible disease in the second trimester. I underwent laser surgery at 16 weeks in an attempt to save the twins. We were told that if the twins were still alive after 4 weeks there was a very good chance they would survive. However, sadly 5 weeks after the surgery we lost Lucy Hope Ramsbottom. We gave her the middle name as we never lost hope that she would survive.

Thankfully our beautiful miracle daughter Megan Rose survived against all the odds – at one point we had to consider cutting her cord in an attempt to save Lucy.

So I am looking for sponsorship to run my first (and probably last marathon!) to raise money towards this worthy cause to not only help fund research but to also support other sufferers of TTTS.

Miranda's story: Through a tragic event, I’ve been so lucky to meet Kristina and her family. We now share a bond, through losing a daughter to TTTS.

Through a routine scan at 18.5 weeks I was diagnosed with Stage 3 TTTS and immediately was flown to Auckland for laser surgery, sadly two days later our daughter Hannah passed away, most likely due to heart failure due to TTTS. At 36 weeks our girls were born. We happily welcomed our miracle survivor Isobel Maia and said goodbye to Hannah Maia, it was an emotional day.

I feel strongly about increasing awareness of this awful disease and the thought that funding towards research may just save one family from suffering the pain we both went through will make it a worthwhile cause.

I'm training to do a half marathon walk later in the year but will start with a 10km walk at the same time Kristina is doing her Marathon. We ask for your support to help others in our situation but also in memory of Hannah and Lucy.

Many thanks for taking time to read this challenge.