Denver, Colo. (November 2, 2017) – Being the face of an organization is a big responsibility for anyone, but it’s one that 14-year-old twins Ashley and Aspen Somers have accepted gladly since they could talk. The twins’ parents, Lonnie and Michelle Somers, launched the national nonprofit Fetal Health Foundation (FHF) in 2006 to provide hope, resources and connections to parents who are diagnosed with a fetal syndrome.
In 2002, when the Somers were about halfway thru their pregnancy, they were told that their babies were affected by Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS), a rare disease of the placenta. Fortunately, the Somers found Dr. Ruben Quintero in Tampa, Florida, who performed minimally invasive intrauterine surgery which saved the twin girls.
On June 17, 2003, at 35 weeks, Aspen and Ashley were born. Today, the twins are healthy and have achieved enormous success academically and in a variety of extracurricular activities.
“They are the inspiration for everything we do,” says Lonnie. “It’s just incredible when you look at everything they’ve accomplished to think that at one point they were given almost no hope for survival.”
Says Ashley, “Imagine how many people would be affected if you had never been born. It would change the whole world. I want every family to have hope.” Aspen echoes her sister, stating, “I plan to change the world; and other kids should get that chance, too.”