There was just too much working against little Joelle from the start. It's as if she hung on just long enough to give her sister Jordan a fighting chance at life.
After Joelle died, there was a three-week window where Jordan was monitored for signs of having been affected by her sister's passing. This would have been the case if Dr. Q had missed even one vessel connection. At one point the fluid level in Jordan's sac dropped mysteriously and dangerously low. The doctors as Meriter informed Jamie and I that Jordan could die by crushing against her own cord; however, Dr. Peter Pryde added, "But that would just be bad luck."
So at 28 weeks, I was about to be admitted to the hospital and Jordan was to be started on steroids to help develop her immature lungs pending an emergency early delivery. However, first Dr. Pryde made a phone call to Dr. Quintero who advised him NOT to deliver the very premature Jordan, that he believed her fluid level would stabilize since he has seen this happen in 5% of the cases where there is a demise of one twin. Fortunately Dr. Pryde, who knew Dr. Quintero personally (and could imitate his Spanish accent to a "T") heeded his advice because it turned out Dr. Q was correct.
After nearly three months of bed-rest and bi-weekly appointments to Meriter Hospital in Madison, the emotional roller-coaster ride came to an end on September 17, 2001, when Jordan arrived on her own timing, full-term and completely healthy. It was feared that her heart was slightly enlarged, and the words "potential heart transplant" were even mentioned, but her heart appeared normal by all indications - and her feet were not clubbed after all. Although the smooth eight-hour labor and delivery was textbook, it was bittersweet as Jamie and I welcomed our daughters. Jordan, the older sister entered the world crying followed a few minutes later by tiny Joelle, who still shrouded in her sac, entered the world silently.
By definition, Jordan is and will always be a twin. Someday we will let her know this and tell her about how we and some incredible doctors did everything humanly possible to try and save both her and her sister Joelle. We thank God for blessing us with Jordan Joelle, yet our hearts ache for Joelle Ann. We will never forget you. We love you both. Until we meet on Heaven's shores...
Website homepage