8/3/2019 Ava and Jillian

1/1

HOPE Ornaments 2011Honoring Ava Elizabeth and Jillian Grace

Ava Elizabeth and Jillian Grace came into the world on September 28, 2011 at only 25 weeks old. HOPE Ornaments is

honoring Ava and Jillian for their story of hope, faith, love and strength.

Kevin and Emily learned at 6 weeks that they would be blessed with identical twins, and at 18 weeks they learned that they would be little girls. After a level 2

ultrasounds at 20 weeks, they learned that the girls were at risk for a condition known as Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS). TTTS is a condition in

which the blood flow through the blood vessel connections in the placenta of monochorionic, diamniotic twins (one placenta, two amniotic sacs) becomes

unbalanced. In TTTS, the smaller twin (often called the donor twin Jillian) does not get enough blood while the larger twin (often called the recipient twin-

Ava) becomes overloaded with too much blood.

The doctors did weekly ultrasounds to watch the fluid levels and monitor development of TTTS. At 25 weeks, Emily experienced extreme back pain and was

sent to Evanston hospital to monitor the pain. Within hours the doctors gave Emily magnesium and steroids to help the babies and performed reductionamniocenteses to remove excess fluids. At 8:49pm Ava Elizabeth was born, weighing 670 grams and measuring 31.5 cm. Jillian Grace was born 4 minutes later

at 8:53pm, weighing 610 grams and measuring 32 cm. The girls were diagnosed with TTTS after delivery.

Ava and Jillian have been on the rollercoaster that is the ISCU (Infant Special Care Unit). The girls have brought so much joy to Emily and Kevin, despite the

stress and fear they face every day as parents. There is still a long road ahead, but at only 4 weeks old Ava and Jillian have proved to be fighters. Emily and

Kevin are grateful for the support, love and prayers friends and even strangershave shown for their girls. They cant wait to tell Ava and Jillian about the

love that has surrounded them since the moment they arrived!

Emily, Kevin, Ava and Jillian symbolize the strength and hope that HOPE Ornaments brings to patients in the hospitals. To follow Ava and Jillians story, please

visithttp://www.caringbridge.org/visit/avaandjillian

Ava at 4 days Jillian at 4 days Ava at 3 weeks Jillian at 3 weeks

HOPE Ornamentsbrings hope and encouragement to those in the hospital battling cancer and other life threatening diseases.HOPE Ornaments 562 Second Street, Grayslake IL 60030 / (847)903-5565 / Lyzzi.elliott@gmail.com / www.hopeornaments.com

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/avaandjillianhttp://www.caringbridge.org/visit/avaandjillianhttp://www.caringbridge.org/visit/avaandjillianmailto:Lyzzi.elliott@gmail.commailto:Lyzzi.elliott@gmail.comhttp://www.hopeornaments.com/http://www.hopeornaments.com/mailto:Lyzzi.elliott@gmail.comhttp://www.caringbridge.org/visit/avaandjillian