AFTER the 'heartache' of nearly losing his twin daughters to a devastating condition, TTTS (Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome), a dad is raising money for charity.

Paramedic Ben Rean, from Evesham wants to support Tamba (Twins and Multiple Births Association) after his identical twin girls Isla and Jemima had a tough start in life arriving 11 weeks early because of TTTS.

Mr Rean said: “I want to do something to help so we can understand more about TTTS and reduce the heartache that so many twin families go through,”

Him and his wife Tabby were thrilled to find out at a 10-week scan that they were expecting twins and Mrs Rean remembers this as “the best day of her life”.

Two weeks later at a scan the couple were told about the risk of having multiples, especially as their girls were identical and shared the same placenta. Mrs Rean should have had another scan at 16 weeks, but this was missed and the couple knew this wasn’t right so pressed hard for a scan.

Tamba’s Maternity Engagement Programme shows that if units follow clinical guidance on the care of multiples, which includes ensuring the crucial 16-week scan takes place, that babies’ lives can be saved and there would be fewer neo-natal admissions.

Mrs Rean found out she had TTTS at a scan when she was 17 weeks and 5 days pregnant – and it was serious. Already suffering from acute hyperemesis gravidarum and in their local hospital on a drip, she was transferred to Birmingham Women’s Hospital under the care of twin expert Professor Mark Kilby.

“He told us there was a 60% chance of losing them both and an 80% chance that only one of the girls would survive. We were devastated,” Mr Rean said. Laser ablation was carried out and the girls survived. They then endured an agonising 72 hour wait for the next crucial scan, which fortunately showed two heartbeats. The intervention had worked. Mr Rean said: “We were being scanned weekly and planned for a c-section on December 18, 2017, but the girls had other ideas and Tabby went into labour at 29 weeks +2 and there was nothing we could do to stop this. Tabby’s placenta had abrupted the night before, and no-one knew. Both our beautiful twin girls had to be resuscitated, both were born septic and were rushed into NICU. Isla was 3lbs 2 and Jemima 2lbs 7. We weren’t able to see them for hours – it was heartbreaking.”

The girls were in neo-natal care for six weeks and Mr Rean said the staff there were ‘incredible’. The girls came home on their planned c-section date and are doing well.

To support Mr Rean who is cycling in the 100-mile Ride-London in August visit justgiving.com/fundraising/benrean