Mom Finds Out Both of Her Twin Babies Have Rare Eye Cancer at the Same Time

A Pennsylvania couple was delighted after welcoming their healthy twin girls. But they rushed to the hospital ten days later and discovered a life-changing truth after one of their girls suddenly stopped eating.

Like most parents, Maryann Oakley and Nathan couldn't wait for their baby girls to arrive when they first found out they were having twins. The soon-to-be dad worked as a lighting and sound engineer while Maryann prepared to be a full-time mother.

After watching her girls grow inside her womb for nine months, Maryann arrived at Hershey Hospital in Pennsylvania to deliver her little twins, hoping everything would go as planned.

The Big Day

Maryann and Nathan welcomed their twins, Eve and Ella Oakley, on December 19, 2017. The parents were thrilled to hold their little girls in their arms, unaware of how things would soon take a different turn.

Ten days later, Maryann and Nathan noticed something strange. While the mother fed Ella without any hassle, Eve refused to eat and cried in pain. After trying their best to soothe Eve, the couple rushed her to the hospital. Maryann recalled:

"She was wailing in pain all of a sudden."

A Strange Discovery

When the doctors checked Eve, they immediately took her inside the emergency room for surgery to treat her twisted bowel. A few hours later, they emerged from the room and revealed that her organs were failing.

Maryann and Nathan's worst nightmare began in March 2022 when they took Eve to the hospital.

Soon, the doctors made a shocking discovery while treating Eve, leaving Maryann and Nathan devastated. The medical professionals diagnosed her with retinoblastoma ― a rare type of eye cancer.

The Next Step

After the scary diagnosis, Maryann took Ella to the hospital with Nathan, where the doctors diagnosed the little girl with the same rare condition. Maryann said:

"I was absolutely devastated."

What followed next were months of painful moments for the twins and their parents. While waiting for Eve to recover from septic shock, the doctors began Ella's chemotherapy. Meanwhile, Maryann and Nathan prayed for their girls.

The Painful Treatment

"We had to drive Ella in every day for her treatment, and Eve stayed in as she was so ill," Maryann recounted. Eve's chemotherapy began soon after Ella's, but it was not easy for the parents to see their girls in pain.

In May 2018, the doctors told Maryann and Nathan that Ella's cancer had gone, and Eve was declared stable a month later. However, that did not mean the girls were out of danger.

In August, Ella's cancer returned. Maryann and Nathan dreaded this moment, but they didn't give up. After undergoing radiation therapy, Ella's cancer went away in September. Maryann said:

"We were told it could still come back, and they are also at risk of developing brain cancer."

Their Worst Nightmare

After the Oakley twins were declared stable, their parents hoped they wouldn't have to hear the doctors talk about cancer again. Although Eve had lost much of her hearing, the parents were happy their daughters didn't have to undergo chemotherapy anymore.

However, Maryann and Nathan's worst nightmare began in March 2022 when they took Eve to the hospital. The doctors told them her cancer had returned. Maryann said:

"We were crushed."

More Hospital Visits

Once again, Maryann and Nathan had to visit the hospital regularly and see their little girl undergo painful medical procedures. However, the girls missed each other this time when Eve left for the hospital.

While Eve underwent cryotherapy, Maryann and Nathan prayed for her recovery. The doctors were yet to run tests on Ella in September to find out if she was still stable.

Maryann and Nathan don't know how long their girls will live, so they try to fill the girls' lives with pleasant experiences. Despite wanting to cry, the parents stayed strong and prayed for the best.

Our prayers are with the Oakley family as they go through some of the most stressful times of their lives. We hope Eve and Ella's cancer never returns.

Click here to read another story about parents who found out their newborn had half a heart, but they refused to give up. Now, their daughter is five years old and plays in the playground like other children.