A FAMILY fun day in Launceston last month raised more than £300 for a local pregnancy loss charity.

The charity Bobby’s Little Angels was set up by Launceston couple Rebecca Jefferies and Andrew Jackson, whose twins Bobby and Freddy, suffered from ‘twin to twin syndrome’ in the womb last year. 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.

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 last May.

Despite some health problems and a stay in hospital in Bristol over the new year to be re-ventilated, Freddy is doing well.

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’ last year 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.

The family does not make any profit from these boxes, which are made up of items donated or paid for by themselves or by charity fundraising events.

The charity held a family fun day at Launceston Football Club on May 26, when £314 was raised. There were bouncy castles, two bands, face painting and stalls to entertain families.

Andrew and Rebecca expressed their thanks to all who attended, helped and donated a prize, and special thanks to the bands Rudh and The Prevention for playing, and to the football club for letting them use their facilities.

Andrew and Rebecca will be paying a visit to Derriford Hospital on July 16 — Bobby and Freddy having been delivered at the Snowdrop Suite there — as they are buying two annual family passes to Dartmoor Zoo for families on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Although a pregnancy loss charity, Andrew and Rebecca wanted to give something back to the NICU, where Freddy spent 63 days.

Bobby’s Little Angels are looking for volunteers who can knit or crochet. To find out more find them on Facebook or visit www.bobbys-little-angels.co.uk