REALITY star Nicole Zanatta has revealed her newborn twin daughters have been diagnosed with a life-threatening rare virus.
The 35-year-old welcomed her baby girls in May as a single mother after conceiving them via IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) using a sperm donor.
Reality star Nicole Zanatta has revealed her newborn twin daughters have been diagnosed with a virus Credit: Instagram
She welcomed Seraphina and Madyson in May Credit: Instagram
In June, the New York native took to Instagram to announce their births as well as to reveal their health woes.
Firefighter Nicole told her followers that Seraphina and Madyson had been diagnosed with CMV (Cytomegalovirus).
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According to the NHS, most babies with congenital CMV do not have any symptoms.
The virus can cause rashes, jaundice, a low birth weight, seizures, hearing problems and problems with the liver, spleen and eyes.
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They may have to have tests to check their kidneys, liver, brain, eyes and hearing as well as regular follow-up appointments until they’re around five-years-old.
She told her fans: “Since birth, we’ve spent time in the NICU, attended countless appointments which are still ongoing, undergone testing and started medications.
“I recently brought them home a week ago but our journey is far from over.
“Through every high and low, I choose faith over fear, resilience over doubt and gratitude for every blessing along the way.
“I will give my girls every opportunity to thrive. I will always fight for them and advocate for their needs.”
Nicole went on to share advice for other parents who may be dealing with the same virus with their children and thanked everyone for their support during the difficult time.
Her The Challenge co-star Marie Roda set up a GoFundMe page to help her with the costs of the appointments and medication.
Marie wrote on the page: “Nicole has shown up for me during moments when I never expected it—including coming to my uncle’s funeral after I had simply shared the information on my Instagram story.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Nicole with medical bills Credit: Instagram
She’s a reality TV veteran having starred on five seasons of The Challenge Credit: MTV
“That is the kind of person she is. And now, it is time for me to show up for her.
“Nicole’s greatest dream has always been to become a mother. She wanted it so deeply that she courageously chose to begin the journey of motherhood on her own.
“Being a new mother to one baby is hard. Becoming a single mother to twins is even harder.
“But navigating motherhood while both of your babies are sick is something most of us cannot begin to imagine.”
She went on to thank several of their co-stars for their contributions, including Zac and Jenna Nichols, Tori Deal, Derrick Kosinski and Veronica Portillo.
So far she’s raised a total of £8,016.54 ($10,763) on the page.
Nicole appeared on Ex On The Beach: Peak of Love, which is the US version of the hit reality show, back in 2019 alongside Love Island‘s Georgia Steel and The Ibiza Weekender‘s Callum Izzard.
She’s also starred on five full seasons of competition show The Challenge across both MTV and Paramount+.
