A COUPLE from Launceston, who sadly lost one of their twins earlier this year, have set up a pregnancy loss charity to help others who face similar grief.

Rebecca Jefferies and Andrew Jackson’s twins, Bobby and Freddy, suffered from ‘twin to twin syndrome’ in the womb. Twin to twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a disease of the placenta (or afterbirth) that affects identical twin pregnancies.

It happens when there is an imbalance in the placental blood vessels that connect both twins. If the blood does not flow evenly between the twins, one gets more blood, called the recipient twin, while the other gets less blood — the donor twin.

The uneven blood flow results in the recipient twin growing too big, due to the extra nutrients and fluid he is receiving, and the donor twin growing too slowly.

The couple travelled to Bristol but Rebecca was unable to have laser treatment. She had fluid reduction treatment, which was unable to solve the problem.

Sadly, Bobby passed away. As the bigger twin, he was receiving blood and nutrients from Freddy, and his heart overloaded.

Rebecca had to have an emergency cesarean section, and Bobby was born sleeping.

Rebecca said: “They thought Freddy wouldn’t make it through the night, but he’s five months now and doing really well.”

Rebecca delivered her twins at the Snowdrop Suite at Derriford Hospital, and her other children were provided with a bear that they could talk to, so Bobby would hear them. Rebecca said this helped them through the grieving process. “They felt part of it,” she said.

The couple wanted to create memory boxes for those who are experiencing grief, including for parents who are suffering loss from multiple pregnancies — for example, those who may have been expecting twins, like Rebecca and Andrew.

They set up ‘Bobby’s Little Angels’ around a month ago to be able to do this.

Though there are charities already offering boxes to comfort people in times of grief, Rebecca and Andrew wanted to create tailored boxes acknowledging twin and multiple pregnancies.

Rebecca said: “We put in specific items. If you still have a child and one that’s passed, they have got something to keep to remember that they were a twin and this is an item from their sibling, and we have items available for other siblings from a different pregnancy.”

Although they have only been running Bobby’s Little Angels for a matter of weeks, and are finishing off the memory boxes before any will be given out, Rebecca and Andrew have already had families approach them, who they have helped and are still helping by providing emotional support.

Once the memory boxes are ready, they will be taken down to the hospital at Plymouth, to go on to help grieving families.

Rebecca and Andrew’s other children, seven-year-old Rhys, five-year-old Tyler and four-year-old Esmay have been helping put together the memory boxes.

Rebecca said: “It’s helped the children as well. We’ve said we’re making these boxes for friends of Bobby. They like helping and it’s helped them.

“We’ve had amazing support from the surrounding community. Without that support we wouldn’t have been able to get everything together so quickly. We’ve had people up country asking if they can provide things for the boxes. Lots of people have been making teddies, making keyrings, donating items. Sands (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society) contacted us to see if they can help.

“We have also reached the USA — there have been people contacting us from there. We are only little, it’s only me and Andrew and support from other people, but to know it’s reached that far is amazing.”

They were also pleased with the support they had from the crowds at Launceston Carnival, where they took part in the parade. Rebecca added: “People were cheering and clapping. It’s such a taboo subject but we had a brilliant reaction.”

Andrew’s mother recently took part in a sponsored daily steps challenge to help raise money to put together the boxes, Andrew and Rebecca have put in their own money, and next year they are planning a big family fun day at Launceston Football Club to raise awareness, and funds for the Snowdrop charity, which renovated the Snowdrop Suite at Plymouth.

Rebecca said: “It means a lot to us to help them.”

The couple hope by then Bobby’s Little Angels will be officially registered as a charity.

At the fun day planned for May 26, there will be vintage fairground rides by Bacon Family Amusements, facepainting, stalls, tombola, a big raffle, with other activities for children and mascots from the Short Circuit shop in Launceston.

Representatives from Little Things & Co, the baby bereavement charity that has provided items for the memory boxes, and representatives from Snowdrop will also be on hand to explain what they do.

Rebecca and Andrew expressed their thanks to Short Circuit and The Bug And Pin in Launceston for their support. Short Circuit and Bobby’s Little Angels will be holding a PlayStation VR event soon.

To find out more about Bobby’s Little Angels, find them on Facebook or visit www.bobbys-little-angels.co.uk/