What was supposed to be a routine ultrasound ended up in a dramatic and speedy emergency birth for mum-of-four Tara Cleal.

Identical twins Oliver and Noah were born at 32 weeks in February this year after doctors found the brothers had a rare and serious condition called Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome.

Ms Cleal, from Toowoomba, said Noah was taking all the nutrients from Oliver and the babies would have to be born via emergency caesarean.

“To go in for something routine then hearing that the babies needed to be born was scary,” Ms Cleal said.

“I still thought I had a few weeks to get things sorted.”

Ms Cleal and her partner Jad have two other children Mia, 3, and Lily, 13 months.

“Because of the condition we couldn’t have the babies at Toowoomba and they were going to send us to the Mater or Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital but there was no room.

“They came back and asked how we felt about birthing at Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH).”

The Royal Flying Doctor Service flew a pregnant Ms Cleal to the Sunshine Coast and within three hours of arriving, Noah and Oliver were born.

“There wasn’t much time to wrap my head around it all.

“There were so many people in that room and as soon as the babies were born they took them to the Neonatal Unit where they were put on CPAP (ventilation) machines and were given fluids.”

Thankfully, the gorgeous boys thrived and only had to stay in the Neonatal Unit for 12 days before being transferred back to Toowoomba.

“While we were on the Sunshine Coast, Jad, the girls, and I stayed at Wishlist’s Reed House near Nambour Hospital,” Ms Cleal said.

“It was such a whirlwind, we didn’t have time to organise accommodation and we were so relieved the option was there.

“We also spent a lot of time in the Parent’s Retreat in the Neonatal Unit and we later found out that Wishlist funded the fit out of those rooms.

“It was hard being away, especially for the girls, but the ladies at Reed House were so helpful.

“It definitely made it easier not having to worry about accommodation.”

Reed House offers affordable accommodation for patients receiving ongoing or emergency treatment at SCUH, Nambour Hospital, Selengor or Genesis CancerCare.

Patients who live outside a 50km radius of Nambour Hospital or SCUH are also eligible for a subsidy to assist with the costs of travel and accommodation.