Words: Brigid O’Connell
Photography: Jay Town

Chrysi Tsimarakis and her identical twin sister, Nefeli, have shared a bond so strong
since they were conceived that it almost cost them both their lives.

But today, after spending all of her five months alive at The Royal Children’s
Hospital (RCH), Chrysi has woken
up at home for the first time.

The babies suffered the potentially lethal Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome. Through shared foetal blood vessels, Nefeli was pumped dangerously full of blood and nutrients in the womb, while Chrysi was being starved.

Born at 25 weeks and one day, Chrysi was born weighing 504g while Nefeli weighed 674g. For four months Helen Tsimarakis and husband George walked between Chrysi at the RCH and Nefeli at the Royal Women’s Hospital — often multiple times a day — to keep watch over both girls.

“You take it for granted having all your family in the one house together,” Ms Tsimarakis said. “The hospital is incredible for what they’ve done for us.”

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