Emily Progin, PR and Communications Coordinator
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Release: Immediate
QUADRIPLEGIC WOMAN BECOMES MOTHER OF TWINS AFTER HIGH-RISK BIRTH
A Miracle Mid-Pandemic Pregnancy—Just in Time for Mother’s Day
ALEXANDRIA, Va.—Paralyzed from the chest down, Daniela Izzie (pronounced eye-zay) experienced a moving miracle on April 24 when she became the proud first-time mother of twins following an exceptionally rare and high-risk pregnancy in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Happy Mother’s Day, Dani!
Believed to be one of only a handful of quadriplegics ever to give birth to twins, Dani’s pregnancy was triple high-risk due to her paralysis, her multiple pregnancy, and the unexpected emergence of COVID-19 during her final trimester. Her journey was fraught with risks, including blood pressure drops and spikes that led to frequent blackouts and even threatened her with a stroke. COVID-19 added another layer of challenges. Despite these ups and downs, Dani and her husband, Rudy, displayed unwavering determination throughout the pregnancy to deliver two baby girls and prepare for adaptive parenthood.
While her paralysis made some aspects of her pregnancy more challenging, as Dani explained, “My body has exceeded even my own expectations. It can be hard to believe that you can sustain human life inside a broken body, let alone two lives, [but] my very paralyzed body has professionally engineered two human lives.” Dani’s obstetrician observed that she may be even more equipped than the average person to tackle the challenges of pregnancy because she has already navigated the challenges of quadriplegia. “Best. Doctor. Ever!” said Dani.
Dani’s journey caught the attention of documentary filmmakers Brad Allgood and Steve Dorst, who will be capturing Dani’s romantic and heroic story. “We believe this rare, intimate look into the topics of disability, pregnancy, love and perseverance will ultimately encourage a more nuanced understanding of ability,” said Allgood. Learn more about the film at www.danistwinsfilm.com and follow Dani’s journey on her Blog at daniizzie.com and on YouTube @daniizzie.
Today, Dani looks forward to a healthy life for herself and her beautiful twin girls, but community support is a critical part of that future: since her injury, Dani has been fundraising for her medical costs with the trusted national nonprofit Help Hope Live. These costs are significant burdens that are not entirely covered by insurance, including a caregiver, mobility essentials, and medical needs.
Make a donation in honor of Daniela Izzie at https://helphopelive.org/campaign/3364/ Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law, and all funds raised will be managed by the nonprofit to cover verified medical and related expenses. Help Hope Live verifies medical and financial need for every patient.
Help Hope Live is a national nonprofit that specializes in engaging communities in secure, tax-deductible fundraising campaigns for people who need a transplant or are affected by a catastrophic injury or illness. Since 1983, campaigns organized by Help Hope Live have raised over $141 million to pay patient expenses. ###
Written by Emily Progin
