Twin born at 23 weeks fought to survive after brother's death

Baby Freddie, born at just 23 weeks, is home from the hospital after 230 days and five surgeries.

Key Takeaways:

• Freddie and his twin brother Charlie were born at 23 weeks, just a week after their mother underwent laser surgery to try to save her sons, who had twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.

• The surgery can cause preterm labor, but without it, both twins' lives are at risk.

• Charlie died a week after he was born, but Freddie overcame sepsis, five surgeries, and more complications to finally go home from the hospital.

The Details:

Freddie and his twin brother, Charlie, were born at 23 weeks after their mother, Lucy Havard, gave birth four months early. Havard had developed twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a condition that can affect twins who share a placenta. In TTTS, blood flows unevenly from one twin to the other, causing one to have too little blood and one to have too much. If left untreated, one or both twins could suffer complications, including organ damage, brain injury, and death. Laser surgery during pregnancy can improve the chances of survival.

Freddie was receiving too much blood flow, and Charlie was receiving too little. Havard underwent the surgery at 22 weeks to try to save her babies, but went into labor a week later. She and her partner, Sonny, were told that the boys were both unlikely to survive. Freddie was born weighing just one pound, three ounces, and Charlie weighed even less.

"They weren't able to breathe by themselves, they were just so small and they were basically see-through still. I've never seen anything like it before," Havard said.

Tragically, Charlie died a week after birth. "In the week Charlie was with us, he showed bravery and strength no baby should ever need. He put up an amazing fight but his little body just wasn't strong enough," said Havard.

"On my lowest days, I used to search the internet, just looking for positive stories because all I was being told by the doctors was [Freddie's] not going to survive," she told EssexLive. "And there's very few stories out there of babies being born at his gestation and his weight and surviving."

She said she wanted to share her story to provide hope for other families. "So, I just wanted to share some hope for other people: even if the doctors are preparing you for the worst it doesn't mean that's always the case because [Freddie]'s proof; he did make it."

Freddie underwent five surgeries and overcame necrotizing enterocolitis, a severe intestinal condition. About 20 cm of his bowel had to be removed, and he had a stoma for six months. He was also on a ventilator for eight weeks, and battled sepsis and potential meningitis as well.

"Freddie has really been through it. We got over one hurdle and something else was thrown in his way. But he's fought through everything that was put in front of him," said Havard.

Doctors predicted it would be impossible for Freddie to be off of oxygen when he was released from the hospital, but he ultimately went home without oxygen support or a feeding tube.

"Miracles do happen," said Havard.

The Bottom Line:

Babies born as young as 21 weeks can survive outside the womb when given proper medical care, and every life deserves to be given the best chance of survival. Tragically, induced abortion (the direct and intentional killing of a preborn baby) is often offered as a "solution" to TTTS; it is clear from Havard's story that fighting for every life is essential.

The TTTS Foundation warns, "When pregnancy termination (induced abortion) is recommended by doctors and counselors, it is done so not as a treatment, per se, but as a reflection of their lack of faith in the available therapies for TTTS."