A COUPLE have spoken of their grief at losing one of their 18-month-old twin sons to a rare illness.

Tyler Dale Preston died at his home in Grimsby on January 13. Now his parents feel able to talk about their son, and his fight against the odds.

Mum Louise Bird, 20, faced a heart-breaking decision when she was given the option to terminate the twins' pregnancy after doctors discovered there was a high possibility that neither baby would survive.

Tyler Dale and brother Bentley Sean were suffering from twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, a rare condition that only affects identical twins.

The pair shared the same membrane and blood supply, but Tyler – who was the "donor" twin – was only getting 25 per cent of the nutrients while his healthier brother – the "recipient" twin – was getting the remainder.

Louise, of Wellington Street, refused to end the pregnancy.

"If there was even a five per cent chance that they would make it, I was going to fight for that chance," she said.

Louise and partner Sean Preston, 22 – who also have a three-year-old daughter named Faith – went to King's College Hospital, London, for a special operation to separate the membrane, which was successful.

"It was so rare there were crowds of students during the operation – it was like an episode of Casualty," Sean said.

The twins were born three months early at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, on July 10, 2010, and they spent weeks in incubators.

At birth, Bentley weighed 1lb 11oz and Tyler 1lb 8oz.

Both boys later caught MRSA but overcame the bug and were finally at home together in November 2010, after three months in hospital.

It was obvious from birth that Tyler was smaller than his brother and the difference became more obvious as time went on.

"When Bentley was sitting up and looking around, Tyler still couldn't lift his head, and while Bentley grew, Tyler still looked like a new born," said Louise.

Tyler was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Sean said: "It didn't bother us in the slightest – it was just one more thing that made him special to us."

Louise said Tyler loved cuddles, laughing, disco lights, the song Moves Like Jagger – and most of all, his brother Bentley.

She continued: "He was such a happy, bubbly baby and he was always laughing.

"On Boxing Day, every time Bentley made a sound, Tyler's face would light up . He knew who he was and he loved him, and his sister Faith."

Louise and Sean always knew that their baby boy had health issues, but his death, on Friday, January 13, came as a total shock.

Louise said: "I could hear Sean screaming like he had never screamed before and I knew that something was seriously wrong. I ran to the stair gate and Sean was there with Tyler, dead in his arms."

Sean said: "That day will be forever painted in my memory.

"You hear about young children dying, but nothing can ever prepare you for the death of your own child."

Tyler had stopped breathing in his sleep, and the coroner's report revealed he did not suffer.

However, Louise said she "knew instantly" that Tyler would not be alone.

Her younger brother Dale Bird died of a rare form of cancer, aged 2, on July 11, 1997.

Louise said: "I knew that Dale would swoop down and carry him up to Heaven.

"They will be playing on the fluffy white clouds for ever.

"Tyler will not be alone – there are plenty of people up there who care for him.

"He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten and his family still love him."

A funeral service has already taken place.