Mary and Rose Olsen

The Story of Rose Marie and Mary Teresa Olsen

William Christopher and Betania Marie Olsen invite you to celebrate the lives of our baby girls, who are now in the hands of our Lord, and would like to share their story with you.

Our baby girls’ names are Rose Marie and Mary Teresa and we will love them both always and forever. Rose and Mary are identical twins who happened to share a single placenta, though they each had their own amniotic sacs. On February 5 ^th, at twenty-two weeks and four days, Betania was diagnosed with "selective intrauterine growth restriction" (sIUGR), where an uneven amount of space was available to each of the babies within the placenta.  Betania was quickly scheduled for intrauterine laser ablation surgery to cauterize the arteries that connect the amniotic sacs.  This would make the amniotic sacs function independently from one another and give both of our babies the best possible chance of survival.

When Betania was admitted to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) on February 8 ^th for the surgery, she was also diagnosed with stage 3 "twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome" (TTTS), where an excess of fluid was being transferred from Mary to Rose. The surgery which she was scheduled for also corrects this condition. The surgery was deemed a success, she was discharged from the hospital on February 10 ^th, and appointments were scheduled to continue to watch their progress.

On February 22 ^nd we learned that the growth restriction was too severe and Mary's heart was hardening while her abdomen was filling with fluid. This was a sign that she would not be able to survive her condition, and on February 25 ^th we received the devastating news that she had passed away. We suspected that she had passed on the evening of the 23 ^rd, as that was the last time we felt her move. As a result, Rose had become anemic and some of her fluid transferred from her back to Mary. Betania was admitted to Harrisburg Hospital for close monitoring until Rose's condition stabilized. As Rose's condition improved, Betania was later diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes, though neither condition was advanced.

On March 15 ^th, Betania was 28 weeks pregnant, which is an exciting milestone where Rose could be viable, though there was still a high risk of preterm complications. We had an ultrasound appointment which revealed possible evidence that Rose may again have anemia. Betania was discharged from Harrisburg Hospital to return to UMMC for further testing and possibly have Rose receive a blood transfusion in utero. A detailed scan showed that Rose was not anemic, although she did have low amniotic fluid. Due to the pre-eclampsia, if Betania's blood pressure increased or if Rose's fluid continued to decrease, it would be necessary to deliver her to ensure Betania and Rose's safety.

Betania was readmitted to Harrisburg hospital on March 18 ^th and was placed on bed rest and IV fluids in an attempt to increase Rose's amniotic fluid and allow medical staff to continuously monitor the situation. We had reached 28 weeks and 5 days into the pregnancy where we were told that the chances of survival should be good at this point; every passing day increased Rose's chances dramatically. As Rose grew, she moved more each day, which brought her family a bit of relief and hope.

On March 25 ^th, an MRI was performed to help doctors assess the health of Rose's kidneys and lungs, as the kidneys were difficult to see by ultrasound due to the decreasing fluid. The decreased fluid and the difficulty in finding healthy kidneys presented a major concern to the medical staff, whom with a heavy heart, had to inform us that Rose's chances of survival would be slim upon delivery, based on what they had seen in the past. Rose's only hope was to be delivered in a level 4 NICU where she could receive a more advanced level of care. Betania was again discharged from Harrisburg Hospital to return to UMMC where she would undergo a transabdominal amnioinfusion; adding fluid to Rose's amniotic sac in order to help increase visibility during ultrasounds and determine a diagnosis and course of action.

Shortly after the procedure was complete, the amniotic sac began leaking fluid and Betania was readmitted to UMMC's antepartum unit for a ruptured membrane to remain on bed rest until delivery. Rose's kidney function continued to be difficult to assess and she was to be treated by the Pediatric Nephrology department at UMMC's level 4 NICU after delivery. If Betania and Rose's condition remained stable, the plan was to deliver at 36 weeks by cesarean section, and until then both would be monitored closely.

On Monday, May 2 ^nd at 35 weeks Betania began experiencing contractions and it was determined that she must deliver. William and Betania’s mother, Connie, rushed to UMMC from Harrisburg and arrived in time for delivery. At 2:46 p.m., Rose Marie Olsen was born at 4 pounds and 3 ounces, and at 2:48 p.m., Mary Teresa Olsen was born, asleep in God's hands, at 8.4 ounces.

After birth, Rose was rushed to the NICU so that medical staff could assess her condition and begin treatment. It was determined that her lungs were too small to absorb enough oxygen to sustain her other organs. Her breathing needed assistance by ventilator to help absorb the oxygen that she required. Air had also been trapped between her lungs and chest cavity and had to be continually siphoned via chest tube until the lungs would heal to prevent leakage. Additionally, she had only one small kidney and it was unable to function. She would require a kidney transplant at 15 to 18 months from an adult donor and she would require dialysis until then. Despite having small lungs, they were strong and she was able to breathe over the respirator, which is normally a good sign, though it required the medical staff to compensate.

On Tuesday, May 3 ^rd at 4:15 a.m., on the date of Betania and William's 2 ^nd wedding anniversary, they were summoned to the NICU where they were informed of the difficult news that there was nothing further that could be done to save Rose's life. Rose was unable to absorb enough oxygen and would have a slowly decreasing heart rate until she would rejoin her sister, Mary, in God's hands. At 8:52 a.m., Rose passed peacefully in her mother and father’s arms.

Rose and Mary were surrounded by love from their parents and family and received a great deal of prayers and wonderful gestures by countless friends and acquaintances to their family. They never spent a moment alone in their lives and were always surrounded by those who truly cared for them. Although their time in this world was short, they touched the lives of many.

This has been the most challenging experience we have ever encountered, but the support of our family and friends has made it possible to get through this. We are extremely grateful to have an amazing support system and the prayers, kind words and thoughts mean more to us than we will ever be able to express.  From the bottom of our hearts, we thank and love you all.

Rose Marie Olsen and Mary Teresa Olsen are survived by their loving parents, William Christopher and Betania Marie Olsen of Mechanicsburg, PA; paternal grandparents, William Joseph and Mary Jane Olsen of Camp Hill, PA; maternal grandparents, Michael John and Connie Marie McKee of Camp Hill, PA; maternal aunt, Teresa Lynn McKee, of Camp Hill, PA; maternal uncle, Cale Andrew McKee, of Camp Hill, PA; paternal great-grandparents, Betty May and Thomas Vincent Olsen of Enola, PA; maternal great-grandparents, John Jerome and Shirley Ann McKee, of Camp Hill, PA and David Edward and Jane Marie Cale of Elizabethown, PA; many great- aunts and uncles, and cousins. They were preceded in death by paternal great-grandparents, Ario and Rose Andreoli, of Camp Hill, PA.

We will celebrate the lives of our beautiful girls, Rose Marie and Mary Teresa Olsen, on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at Church of the Good Shepherd, 3435 East Trindle Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. and Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 a.m. A burial ceremony will be held at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 1313 South York Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 immediately following the Mass. A lunch will be held at Church of the Good Shepherd parish hall following the funeral services.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome Foundation, 411 Longbeach Parkway, Bay Village, Ohio 44140; http://www.tttsfoundation.org/donations.htm.

Rose and Mary’s family has entrusted their care to Myers – Buhrig Funeral Home and Crematory in Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-3421.  Read their full story, view their memorial video and portrait, and sign their official guest book at www.Myers-Buhrig.com .