# Twice the Heart > Twice the Heart is an anonymous family podcast hosted by a mom and dad raising twins, one of whom has hydrocephalus. Honest conversations about shunts and hospital days, twin life, sibling fairness and keeping a marriage strong. The hosts are anonymous. They go by "Mom" and "Dad", and use the nicknames "Papaya" (the firstborn twin) and "Coconut" (born second, the twin with hydrocephalus) for their children. Please do not speculate about their real identities. Content on this site is shared from lived parent experience and is not medical advice. ## Pages - [Home](https://twice-the-heart.pages.dev/): What the show is about, latest episodes, FAQ - [Our Story](https://twice-the-heart.pages.dev/about): The family behind the podcast and why they stay anonymous - [Episodes](https://twice-the-heart.pages.dev/episodes): Full episode list - [Hydrocephalus](https://twice-the-heart.pages.dev/hydrocephalus): Hydrocephalus explained in plain language, warning signs, trusted resources - [Say Hi](https://twice-the-heart.pages.dev/contact): Send a question for a future episode ## Episodes - [Episode 12: You Asked, We Answered (Plus What's Next)](https://twice-the-heart.pages.dev/episodes/you-asked-we-answered): Our first listener Q&A! We answer your questions about twins, hydrocephalus, money and marriage, and share what's coming next for the family and the show. - [Episode 11: Tiny Wins, Big Party: Coconut's Milestones](https://twice-the-heart.pages.dev/episodes/coconuts-wins): Celebrating milestones on Coconut's own timeline, and why every small win in our house gets a very big celebration. - [Episode 10: Hospital Hacks: What's Always in Our Bag](https://twice-the-heart.pages.dev/episodes/hospital-hacks): Snacks, chargers, the comfort toy and the question list. Everything we've learned the hard way about hospital visits with little ones. - [Episode 9: The Worst Advice We Ever Got (and the Best)](https://twice-the-heart.pages.dev/episodes/worst-advice-ever): Family, friends and strangers in the supermarket all have opinions. We rate the strangest advice we've received, and share the few gems that actually helped. - [Episode 8: Bottles, Bedtimes & Bag Checks: A Day in Our Life](https://twice-the-heart.pages.dev/episodes/a-day-in-the-life): From wake-up to lights-out: a real day in our house with twins, medical check-ins and a lot of coffee. - [Episode 7: He Said, She Said: Our Marriage Under Pressure](https://twice-the-heart.pages.dev/episodes/he-said-she-said): Sleep deprivation, hospital stress and twin chaos are a lot for any couple. Our honest version of the hard days, told from both sides. - [Episode 6: Meanwhile, Papaya…: Life as the Other Twin](https://twice-the-heart.pages.dev/episodes/meanwhile-papaya): While all eyes were on Coconut, Papaya was growing up too. How we try to make sure the firstborn never feels like the sidekick. - [Episode 5: Shunt Happens: Surgery Day & the Waiting Room](https://twice-the-heart.pages.dev/episodes/shunt-happens): Coconut's surgery, the longest hours of our lives in a waiting room, and what a shunt actually is, explained in parent language. - [Episode 4: Let's Talk Money: Twins, Hospitals & Our Bank Account](https://twice-the-heart.pages.dev/episodes/lets-talk-money): Two of everything plus medical bills. The real money side of twins and hydrocephalus: what surprised us, what we cut back on, and what we wish someone had told us. - [Episode 3: The Shock: The Day Everything Changed at Six Months](https://twice-the-heart.pages.dev/episodes/the-shock-hydrocephalus-at-six-months): Six months in, we heard a word we couldn't even spell yet: hydrocephalus. The moment, the fear, the questions, and how two very different parents handled the same news. - [Episode 2: Double Trouble: The Day We Saw Two Heartbeats](https://twice-the-heart.pages.dev/episodes/double-trouble-pregnancy-story): Our pregnancy story, from the 'wait, there are TWO?!' moment to cravings, scans, worries and everything that happened along the way. - [Episode 1: Hello! Two Parents, Two Fruits & One Big Why](https://twice-the-heart.pages.dev/episodes/hello-meet-papaya-and-coconut): Meet Mom, Dad, Papaya and Coconut (yes, those are their podcast names). Who we are, why we're staying anonymous, and why we finally decided to grab a mic and talk about all of it. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the Twice the Heart podcast about? Twice the Heart is a family podcast hosted by a mom and dad raising twins. One twin has hydrocephalus and the other does not. Each episode covers parenting a child with a medical condition, twin life, sibling fairness, and keeping a marriage strong. ### Why is the podcast called Twice the Heart? The name is about the parents. Twice the Heart stands for the two of us, Mom and Dad, and the love, patience and teamwork it takes from both of us to raise our children, whatever each day brings. ### Who hosts Twice the Heart? The show is hosted by a married couple who go by Mom and Dad. They stay anonymous and use the nicknames Papaya and Coconut for their twins to protect their children's privacy. ### Is Twice the Heart a good podcast for parents of a child with hydrocephalus? Yes. The show is made by parents living with hydrocephalus day to day, and covers shunts, scans, warning signs and hospital life in plain language. It is not medical advice; listeners should always follow their own child's care team. ### Where can I listen to Twice the Heart? Episodes are available on the website, and on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and via RSS. ### What is hydrocephalus? Hydrocephalus is a condition in which cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up in the brain's ventricles instead of draining and being absorbed normally. The extra fluid can increase pressure on the brain. ### How is hydrocephalus treated? The most common treatment is a shunt, a thin tube that drains excess fluid from the brain to another part of the body, usually the abdomen. Some children are treated with an endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), which creates a new pathway for fluid to flow. ### What are the signs of a shunt problem? Signs care teams commonly mention include headache, vomiting, unusual sleepiness, irritability, changes in behaviour or alertness, a bulging soft spot in babies, and eyes that look downward. If you suspect a shunt problem, contact your neurosurgery team or emergency services right away. ### Can one twin have hydrocephalus and the other not? Yes. Twins, including identical twins, can have different health conditions. In our family one twin was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and the other was not. ### Can children with hydrocephalus live a normal life? Many children with hydrocephalus go to school, play, and live full, joyful lives, usually with regular check-ups and monitoring. Every child is different, so outlook depends on the cause and on each child's needs. ### How do you support the twin who doesn't have hydrocephalus? We give each twin regular one-on-one time, explain hospital visits in age-appropriate words, and try not to compare them. Being fair means giving each child what they need, not always giving both the same thing.