Elsa and Ella - Aberdeen Twinnies

Elsa and Ella’s story!

At 30 weeks I went into labour, we thought I was getting to go back home when things changed. I got told the girls would be delivered that day (05-04-2020). I had a section everything seemed to be fine. The girls got rushed away to the high dependency unit and put into incubators to help with their breathing etc. While in NICU the girls had lots of test and scans done some of which we was unaware of. We was told everything was fine up until 4weeks old, when we got told they had been getting regular head scans. They found holes in their brain, which resulted being Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). This is a type of brain injury that is most common in premature babies or babies born at a low birthweight ( which when our girls were born we were told by many medical professionals in the hospital that they were such good weights for being so early Elsa being 3lbs 3oz and Ella being 3lbs 7oz) The white matter (leuko) surrounding the ventricles (fluid filled spaces) of the brain (periventricular) is deprived of blood and oxygen leading to softening (malacia). Pvl which has a high risk of leading to cerebral palsy, which both my girls now have. Affecting all four limbs, It has left the girls with limited movement and mobility.

Now with our hands being tied and running out of of options, getting limited physio and occupational therapy from the NHS I have had no option but to try different things which of course comes with a major price tag and a lot of time.

So… I ask if you could please make a donation no matter how small so we can continue to provide some private therapy for both Elsa and Ella to get on the move. For one session of therapy costs £50, that’s £100 for both of the girls to have one 45 minute session each a week.

It’s a lot of money but not so much time.

In the past we have booked “intensive therapy weeks” which costs £500 per child, and on top of that we have to travel out of Aberdeen.

This year in July we travelled to “Swim Lab International” - Lanzarote for therapy because our options here in Scotland are so limited and very few and far between. The therapy alone cost just under £4000 not including our flights or accommodation, which we have been so grateful for the help from our family but we no longer have the funds to continue to support our girls with as much therapy as we would like. Due to the costs and not only having one but two children with additional needs. The same condition but yet very different needs. We have seen much improvements from our sessions in the past and would just love for our girls to get regular therapy, so they can have as much as a normal life as possible and be able to join in with their big sister Eva who adores them very much.

The money we raise will be put towards private physio therapy sessions, intensive weeks and equipment needed along the way as they progress and grow. So please I ask donate generously it’s very much appreciated. Much love Mum (Nicole), Elsa & Ella xx