My Story

In August 2022, at our 20 week growth scan, we were told that our precious boy - Charlie Hatcher - had little hope of survival.

Having naturally conceived identical twin boys that April, we ventured into pregnancy already in exceptional circumstances - identical twins making up just 1 in 250 pregnancies. Once the shock of the first scan had settled, we were overjoyed by the special news and began to plan our lives with our beautiful boys. We moved house and got married in Italy that August and spent 2 magical weeks honeymooning in Sorrento, blissfully unaware of the tragic turn our lives were about to take.

The week we arrived back in the UK was the week we were told that ‘Twin A’ had an abnormal head size and it seemed that there was fluid on his brain. We were passed over a leaflet about ‘birth choices’ and referred to the incredible team at Southmead fetal medicine unit for an assessment the following day. We went to such assessment with no real idea of the severity of Charlie’s (Twin A’s) situation. However, from the solemn look on our consultant and midwife’s faces after our scan we knew that our dreams of a family of four were about to be shattered. We were told in no uncertain terms that Charlie had developed severe fluid to his brain - a ‘normal’ brain has 10ml of fluid and Charlie had 16.5ml. This is classed as so severe that Charlie was diagnosed with almost no chance of survival. Additionally, we had Stanley (Twin B) to consider; the growth of Charlie’s head due to brain swelling could mean that Stanley’s growth was disrupted. Despite everything, Stanley was developing with no medical abnormality. As we had the bittersweet chance of delivering one healthy baby, we were advised to terminate Charlie. However, the complications were only just beginning; identical twins share a placenta and therefore a standard termination would mean we would loose both babies.

As such, we were referred to the University College Hospital in London - one of only 3 hospitals that provide the procedure we needed. Devastatingly, we were also told that once the procedure was over I (Sophie, the mother) would have to carry and then deliver both boys - knowing one of them would be stillborn. Many tests followed, including MRI’s, with the certain diagnosis of Charlie’s tragic fate. With this confirmed, we headed to London with a heavy heart. Once there, I was scanned and we were told to wait for a discussion with the lead twin specialist, who would be conducting the procedure. The surgeon entered, with news that truly defied all medical fact - Charlie’s brain fluid had regressed.

In the short week long period between our scans in Bristol and our scan that very day in London, Charlie’s brain fluid had decreased from 16.5ml to 14ml - no longer placing him in the severe, but the moderate category. The doctors, surgeons and nurses simply could not explain why - we were stunned. Yet, we were faced with the concern that this now meant that the termination of Charlie could not legally go ahead and instead we were likely to begin a life of caring for a severely disabled little boy and his identical twin brother (still, incredibly, growing healthily). We met with many medical professionals about how to cope with children with severe medical needs and what this meant for our life going forward.

We were told to return to the hospital in a week’s time where a final medical decision on Charlie’s future would be made. In the week that followed we tried to come to terms with this potential new outcome, hoping that Charlie’s brain fluid would not increase as medically expected. Yet, with this, preparing for a challenging life of intense care for our little man and his anticipated needs. We therefore approached our final appointment in London anticipating a difficult outcome. What happened next was truly extraordinary.

Defying all medical reasoning, Charlie’s brain fluid had regressed even further; placing him in the normal category.

Our consultant chuckled in disbelief as he scanned our miracle boys and told us that he could now measure just 11ml of brain fluid. With doctors never before seeing regression on this scale, we were sent home with the unbelievable outlook of happy, healthy twin boys. Returning with this news to the wonderful team at Southmead fetal medicine was an emotional time, with everyone heavily invested in our extraordinary journey. The team did everything they could to take the upmost care with our sensitive case: scanning us every week up until the boys’ birth, consulting us over our mental health and offering appropriate services, giving advise and support with time off work, liaising with the birth centre and enabling us to feel comfortable with the road ahead - everyone at Southmead went above and beyond to ensure we felt entirely supported.

Now, one year on, we look back at this time in our lives in disbelief. Charlie’s diagnosis was final. Yet, here he is - a kind, intelligent and caring little boy who is achieving all appropriate milestones. Alongside his energetic, sweet and funny identical twin brother Stanley. The two of them are a true miracle and the light of our lives. Without the team at Southmead fetal medicine we could not have coped with the trauma of this one of a kind pregnancy. Their care and kindness guided us through the most difficult time of our lives and we are forever grateful for the immense lengths the team went to in order to ensure we were supported and given the best possible care. Scott and I are running this 10K to raise money for this wonderful group of medical professionals who continue to work tirelessly to help families, just like us. We are forever grateful to them for helping us through the hardest time of our lives; we hope that we can raise as much money as possible so that the team can continue their extraordinary care.