A 36-year-old woman who was born with only one heart ventricle has overcome the odds to give birth to twins at Rome's Gemelli University Hospital.
Hers is the first case of its kind in Italy and one of only fourworldwide.
It was made possible by the young woman's determination and the work of the specialists from Rome's Bambino Gesù PaediatricHospital, who have been caring for her since she was a child with the severe congenital heart disease, and the Gemellihospital, where she gave birth via caesarean section.
The mother and the twins, a boy and a girl, are all doing well.
"I knew I was taking a lot of risks with my half heart, but I wanted to become a mother," she said.
"Giving birth to twins was an emotion that is beyond words".
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