SharonBates
07-25-2005, 11:49 PM
Jul 25, 8:54 PM EDT
Newborn Arizona Twins Need New Hearts
By TIM MOLLOY
Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The parents of 2-week-old twins born with a rare heart disease pleaded for organ donations Monday in hopes of saving the boys' lives.
Nicole Draper was in the 30th week of her pregnancy when she and her husband learned her sons, Nicholas and Nathaniel, have heart muscles that are too weak to pump efficiently. Doctors at UCLA's Mattel Children's Hospital, where the babies are being treated, say their chances of survival are good if they receive heart transplants within three to six months.
"We want our boys to have a chance," said their father, Michael Draper. "We want them to come home."
The Drapers, who are from Arizona and are both registered organ donors themselves, said they didn't want other families to suffer the death of a child. But in the event that a baby does die, they hope the parents would be willing to donate the organs to help them or other parents.
Nicholas is already on the list of prospective recipients, and his brother is expected to be added as well. They will receive hearts in the order that they become available.
The boys are behind other babies on the list, but there are not many children of their age and size who need hearts, said Dr. Mark Plunkett, surgical director of the hospital's pediatric heart transplant program. He did not know how many babies are ahead of the Draper twins on the list.
Plunkett said he believed the boys would need the surgery unless they improve dramatically in the next few months. If they don't receive the hearts, other organs could fail, further jeopardizing their health, he said.
It is extremely rare for one baby to have the condition, known as dilated cardiomyopathy, but even rarer for twins to have it, doctors said.
The Drapers, who live in Phoenix, have only been able to hold each of the boys once since their birth on July 11. The babies were flown separately from Phoenix to the children's hospital within days of their birth, and have been monitored since then in a special unit.
"It's just hard," said Michael Draper, 33. "When you walk into that setting it's hard to say, 'Let's just spend some time with our boys and pretend everything's normal.'"
Michael Draper is continuing his job in admissions at the University of Phoenix while Nicole Draper, 32, stays in Los Angeles to be near the twins. The couple also have a 5-year-old daughter and 4-year-old fraternal twins, who have been drawing pictures to give to the newborns.
"They're very excited to have new brothers," Nicole Draper said. "They understand that they're sick. ... They just want them to come home."
Though the couple has insurance, they said it's been hard to cover the cost of travel, food and a place to stay in Los Angeles. People wishing to donate to the "Nick and Nate Draper Benefit Fund," can contact Wells Fargo Bank about account number 5763252060.
"We're going to swallow our pride and ask for help," Michael Draper said.
Newborn Arizona Twins Need New Hearts
By TIM MOLLOY
Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The parents of 2-week-old twins born with a rare heart disease pleaded for organ donations Monday in hopes of saving the boys' lives.
Nicole Draper was in the 30th week of her pregnancy when she and her husband learned her sons, Nicholas and Nathaniel, have heart muscles that are too weak to pump efficiently. Doctors at UCLA's Mattel Children's Hospital, where the babies are being treated, say their chances of survival are good if they receive heart transplants within three to six months.
"We want our boys to have a chance," said their father, Michael Draper. "We want them to come home."
The Drapers, who are from Arizona and are both registered organ donors themselves, said they didn't want other families to suffer the death of a child. But in the event that a baby does die, they hope the parents would be willing to donate the organs to help them or other parents.
Nicholas is already on the list of prospective recipients, and his brother is expected to be added as well. They will receive hearts in the order that they become available.
The boys are behind other babies on the list, but there are not many children of their age and size who need hearts, said Dr. Mark Plunkett, surgical director of the hospital's pediatric heart transplant program. He did not know how many babies are ahead of the Draper twins on the list.
Plunkett said he believed the boys would need the surgery unless they improve dramatically in the next few months. If they don't receive the hearts, other organs could fail, further jeopardizing their health, he said.
It is extremely rare for one baby to have the condition, known as dilated cardiomyopathy, but even rarer for twins to have it, doctors said.
The Drapers, who live in Phoenix, have only been able to hold each of the boys once since their birth on July 11. The babies were flown separately from Phoenix to the children's hospital within days of their birth, and have been monitored since then in a special unit.
"It's just hard," said Michael Draper, 33. "When you walk into that setting it's hard to say, 'Let's just spend some time with our boys and pretend everything's normal.'"
Michael Draper is continuing his job in admissions at the University of Phoenix while Nicole Draper, 32, stays in Los Angeles to be near the twins. The couple also have a 5-year-old daughter and 4-year-old fraternal twins, who have been drawing pictures to give to the newborns.
"They're very excited to have new brothers," Nicole Draper said. "They understand that they're sick. ... They just want them to come home."
Though the couple has insurance, they said it's been hard to cover the cost of travel, food and a place to stay in Los Angeles. People wishing to donate to the "Nick and Nate Draper Benefit Fund," can contact Wells Fargo Bank about account number 5763252060.
"We're going to swallow our pride and ask for help," Michael Draper said.