A photographer has created a heartfelt tribute to a newborn baby’s twin brother who died in the womb, capturing the enduring bond between the siblings. Jessica Young, the photographer, wrapped baby Leti in a pink blanket and knotted it together with an empty blue blanket, placing angel wings on top to represent the lost twin, James.
Heather Bowman, 39, from St Louis, Missouri, gave birth to Leti after a difficult journey. She had a unicornuate uterus, a condition affecting 1% of women, where only half the uterus forms. This led to the loss of her twins, Buchanan and Leonor (Nori), at 16 weeks in a previous pregnancy. Despite this, she was determined to become a mother.
After multiple failed rounds of IUI, Heather turned to IVF in May 2018. Two embryos were transferred, and she became pregnant. She had hoped for a single baby to reduce risks, but both embryos implanted. However, during the pregnancy, one of the twins, James, died at 17 weeks. Leti was born healthy.
Heather said of the photo: ‘Jessica did an amazing job honoring my daughter and her late brother, it is truly a gift that I will cherish forever.’ The image, which features the empty blue blanket tied with Leti’s pink one, has been shared widely, touching many with its poignant portrayal of loss and love.
