Twins Ruby and Crystal Dawson-Collins separated at birth
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by Mary Graham
mgraham@thekmgroup.co.uk
The parents of premature twins are enduring a 121-mile round trip to visit their daughters as they fight for their lives.
Ruby and Krystal Dawson-Collins were born at 26 weeks at Maidstone Hospital. Ruby weighed just 1lb 9oz; Krystal weighed 2lb 4oz.
But because of the extra care they need and a lack of space in specialist units, they are at different hospitals in different counties.
Parents Stephanie Dawson, 25, and her partner Martin Collins, 38, are now dividing their time between their home in Gladstone Road, Maidstone, and hospitals in Chertsey and Pembury as well as caring for their other two children, 10-year-old son Mitchel and their young daughter Kym.
Maidstone does not have a specialist neo-natal unit so when the twins were born on January 18 doctors tried to find space at Medway Maritime Hospital, which cares for very premature babies born in Kent.
But Medway, the nearest unit for the couple, was full. Two cots were found at the next specialist neo-natal unit – St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey, Surrey.
The twins were together for just a few days before Krystal was deemed well enough to transfer to Pembury Hospital.
But she took a turn for the worse. Instead of being transferred back to Chertsey, which was now full, she was moved to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.
At the end of last week, Krystal was transferred back to Pembury Hospital.But the strain of being so far apart and having to make a round trip of 121 miles, is taking its toll on the couple.
They do not have a car and are completely reliant on the generosity of friends and family to provide lifts. It’s a hectic trip because they stay in Maidstone to pick up Mitchel from school and then set off for the hospitals at about 5pm.
Mr Collins said: “We only get about 10 minutes with each of them, a quick update and a stroke of their heads, before we have to get going.”
“The journey was worse when we had to get to Brighton, but it is still awkward getting up through Pembury then into Surrey.
“Chertsey keep saying they will try and transfer Ruby back to Medway, so at least both girls would be in Kent, but it’s never happened.
“I just can’t seem to get a straight answer out of anyone.
“I don’t understand why Krystal was moved. Perhaps she was moved out of Chertsey too soon?
“I would have thought it was better for them to be together and it would be easier for us if they were in one place, even if that was Chertsey.”
Miss Dawson has to express and then freeze her breast milk to feed the twins, who the couple only see twice a week.
Mr Collins said: “Sometimes we get a panicked call from one of the hospitals, saying they need more milk or more nappies from us urgently.
“It’s like no one realises we are miles away and don’t have a car.
“Once this is all over, I may have to get myself a counsellor. It is a real struggle, but for the sake of our family, we cannot lose it.”
Caesarian
There have been happier moments, though. Mr Collins got to hold Krystal for the first time last Friday.
The twins were delivered at 26 weeks by Caesarean section as they had a condition called Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome, where one twin gets more blood in the womb than the other.
A spokesman for the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, which is now caring for Krystal, said that the
girls had needed very specialist care, only provided in regional centres of expertise in the south east, in Medway, Brighton, Chertsey and parts of London.
“We recognise this is a tough time for Stephanie and Martin and are helping them in any way we can,” the spokesman added.
Dr Paul Crawshaw, clinical director for paediatrics at the Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Trust, Surrey, added: “We always regret the separation of twins and are well aware of the difficulties it is causing the family.
“Ruby, who stayed with us, developed complications and became too unwell to transfer to a local hospital.”
He added “We hope to get them reunited in the very near future.”
Saturday, March 13 2010
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