Walker and Willis

On Wednesday, we will be starting our road trip to meet some amazing people.  I’m so excited and nervous that I probably won’t be able to sleep or eat. (Ok.  Maybe that’s not completely true, but you get the point.)  I’m going to be meeting so many people that have become my heroes, my friends, and my support team.  The craziest part is that I have never met even one of these people in person before.  Behold the power of social media.  Seriously.

We are going to a fundraiser/walk that has been put together by a woman, Brooke, I am honored to call my friend.  Over 7 years ago, she lost one of her precious twin boys  while she was pregnant to a terrible thing called Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS.)  She had never even heard of the Syndrome, as many people still haven’t, yet it claims more babies’ lives each year than Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS.)  Brooke, along with everyone who will be at the fundraiser, hopes to change that.  Awareness about TTTS, along with frequent Ultrasounds for all mothers pregnant with twins who share a placenta, is the goal of this fundraiser and the Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome Foundation.  All proceeds from this walk and fundraiser will be going to the TTTS Foundation.

In addition to raising awareness and money, this walk is a celebration.  It is taking place a couple days after Walker and Willis, the twins that inspired this walk, turn 7.  Walker asked his mother, Brooke, if this could be his birthday party.  That request is a true testament as to what a special, caring child he is. Even though Willis will not be there like Walker, he will be there in all of our hearts.

People are coming from all over to participate in this fundraiser, which makes me so happy and proud to be a part of it.  It also makes me proud to be a part of a support group for TTTS survivors.  No matter what the outcome of their pregnancy, these women all support and care about each other.  I really can’t believe I’m going to meet some of them.  Along with meeting Brooke, I’m finally going to meet the woman who I named one of my twins after.  Without her support during my pregnancy, along with the Foundation, I don’t know how I would have made it through.

If you are in the Tennessee/Alabama area…or even if you are far away like I am….and would like to participate in the walk, we would love to have you.  There will be food, a silent auction, a balloon release, and a group of the best people I know with the biggest hearts.  Please visit:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1392562841008815  for all the details.

Hope to meet you there!