From Kolin and Owen’s Mom: On November 14, 2017, I got up and went to work just like any other day. Carrying twins and working full time was tough, so feeling tired was normal for me. After a few hours, my body was feeling more than just tired, my cheeks were hot and I felt dizzy. My OB sent me to the hospital to check on the twins. After tests and an ultrasound they pumped me full of liquids since Baby A’s sac was low and gave me my first surfactant shot to help develop the twin’s lungs since I was only 34 weeks along. We returned first thing the next day to be re-checked. This time Baby B’s sac was low so I had my second surfactant shot. Then, they prepared me for an emergency C-section. Soon we heard the cries of Kolin (4 lbs.) whom they rushed to the NICU. Owen (5 lbs. 6 oz.) was in a difficult position and the medical team struggled to get him out. He also was rushed to the NICU. We didn’t get to meet our sons until the next day when they were stable. Both suffered from respiratory distress and received surfactant therapy to help them breathe. This began our 21-day stay in the NICU. It was scary to walk into a room and see our babies in incubators connected to many tubes but we also felt blessed for them both to be healthy. We could only touch them through a hole on the side of the incubator. Finally, we were so happy to hold them! We saw our sons get stronger every day and after three weeks, we were able to bring our boys home. We watched them come off oxygen and be put back on it, they battled Jaundice and low white blood counts but eventually they showed how tough they really were. Then, we received a phone call from one of our NICU doctors informing us that Kolin had tested positive for Trisomy 21. As you can imagine an after-birth diagnosis of Down Syndrome came as a big shock. However, he continues to be a fighter and works hard every day to keep up with his twin brother. The boys are two years old now and have developed little personalities that melt our hearts. Kolin is loving, funny and loves to roar like a lion. Owen is mysterious and is intrigued by figuring out how things work. He also loves to climb and play chase. Their smiles are contagious and although they have been through a lot, they are both little warriors. We are grateful to March of Dimes for giving Kolin and Owen the best possible start. Encourage your family and friends to join your team and raise funds to help March of Dimes lead the fight for the health of all moms and babies. Thank you, Kris and Jauqui Phipps