Crystal Duffy Author Media Kit

A young mother pregnant with twins receives a SHOCKING diagnosis during her second trimester that changes the course of events in her pregnancy.

AUT HOR BI O

CRYSTAL DUFFY C

rystal Duffy is a Native Texan and graduate from Georgetown University. She has worked on Capitol Hill and in management consulting for nonprofits, associations and school districts. It was through her work on a strategic assessment of a school

district did she realize her passion for education. She taught high school Spanish in the Houston Independent School District before becoming a Mother. Her high-risk pregnancy with her identical twin girls incited her writing career.

After surviving a two-month bed-rest extended NICU stay, high-risk twin pregnancy, and 2x near-death experience, Crystal was emotionally, physically, and spiritually transformed by her medical trauma. She wanted to share her “Emotional Tale of Empowerment” and inspire other families navigating through a similar journey with a message of strength, hope, and encouragement.

She has connected with thousands of families with her work and on her social media handles through her writing. Her essays on parenting have been featured in Woman’s World Magazine, Brain Child Magazine, Twins Magazine, You & Me Medical Magazine, Blunt Moms, Scary Mommy and Twiniversity where she is a senior staff writer. She is thrilled for the launch of her forthcoming book Twin to Twin. Additionally, she is the Co-Chair on the Parent Advisory Council at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital- in the Houston Medical Center where her feedback as a patient care advocate is helping to #ChangeTheConversation with respect to how doctors and patients interact and collaborate. She is growing a strong community to change the conversation in maternal and infant healthcare. She lives in Houston with her college sweetheart, Ed, their three little girls and yappy little Yorkie.

BOOK BI O

T

win-to-Twin is one twenty-nine-year-old mother’s harrowing and inspiring adventure through a high-risk twin pregnancy. But this isn’t only a book about pregnancy. It’s also an inspirational story to which all women can relate, especially when confronting any type of adversity.

A crisis when expecting: One minute Crystal was sitting at a candlelight dinner in Paris with her husband. The next she was back home in

Houston, sitting in her Ob-Gyn’s office concerned that she was having a second miscarriage.

That wasn’t the news he delivered. Instead, she found out she was pregnant with twins!

Since Crystal and her husband, Ed already had a two-year-old daughter, Abigail, she couldn’t imagine why mothering twins would be all that different. But, after a family vacation at the beach, she finds out that her twins have a life-threatening condition called Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome. That means that Baby B is transfusing blood (disproportionately) to Baby A. A pregnancy book about facing adversity: Her OB says that Crystal is too high risk to let out of his sight, so he sends her to the 5th floor of the Houston Medical Center for the duration of her pregnancy. Sitting alone in her hospital bed, Crystal wonders how she is going to pass the next few weeks, away from her husband and precious daughter. She soon finds out as she embarks on an emotional rollercoaster―from late night emergency ultrasounds to hospital baby blessings, sprinkled with comic relief from nurses and hospital staff.

A riveting true story: Twin-to-Twin is a raw and inspirational story filled with tenderness, vulnerability, and humor. It chronicles the wildest, most terrifying and challenging year of Crystal’s life, which is also the most beautiful and eye-opening. Her hope is that it will bring strength to other women dealing with their own personal trials and tragedies, so they can also triumph.

THE DOCTOR SHOOK HIS HEAD.

NO, IT WAS NOTHING YOU DID OR DIDN’T DO. WE AREN’T CERTAIN WHAT CAUSES TTTS. IT IS NOT GENETIC OR CAUSED BY A SPECIFIC THING.

IT JUST HAPPENS.

Why wasn’t there an explanation,

caused me to stop breathing:

take any more. I sat up and

I wondered?

“If not dealt with immediately,

fiercely grabbing some tissues

I did

the mortality rate is 95 percent

to wipe off the gunky gel from

everything right. Why did this

for both babies. In other words,

my stomach. I pulled my blouse

have to happen to us? I wanted

there’s a slim chance of survival.”

down, stepped off of the exam

Even a medical

theory based on facts?

answers no doctor could give me.

“No.” I gasped. I kept saying.

I felt the hot tears come and I

“No, no, no, no, no.” Hysteria

stopped listening. I knew what

gripped me.

this diagnosis meant: my twins were in the balance, hanging on for dear life. Voices were muddling now. And then I heard Dr.

Bill

say

something

that

Burch purse. I bent down and scooped up Abby into my arms.

“Mommy, Mommy!” Abby kissed

“No, oh God, no!” my mom screamed,

chair and snatched my Tory

and

my

poor

heartbroken dad put his face in his hands. Suddenly, I couldn’t

my cheek, a few goldfish crumbs still on her little lips. I’m outta here, I thought. I hugged her and five seconds later walked out of the exam room.

PRAISE

Crystal is patient, friendly,

“Crystal giving back by

“Crystal is such an

making an impact and

amazing Mom when her

offering support on the

girls were in the NICU

lives of mothers at the

she always treated me

most vulnerable and

with such kindness and

scariest time in their

- LARA LOCKEY

respect. She always

lives.”

Antepartum Nurse

visited the NICU with

- SANDRA URIBE MFM Coordinator

determined, informed, down-to-earth, optimistic (but realistic)”

such joy and enthusiasm to see her babies, and thankfulness towards her healthcare team.”

- ANDREA CRANE NICU Nurse

“To be asked to author the introduction to this book

“Crystal will always take

is a unique honor. It truly

the time to speak to

tells the story of Crystal’s

a complete stranger

trials and tribulations

and offer kindness and

with TTTS. The book

encouragement to others

“Twin to Twin is Crystal

is a must-read for any

navigating through a life

Duffy’s journey through

patient diagnosed with

adversity. She’s an angel.”

her high-risk, high-stakes

TTTS. It will provide hope

twin pregnancy. Both

that all is not lost in their

beautiful and painful, the

pregnancy.”

- KERRI SMELEK CHILDRESS

book, with glorious details and pacing, shows the

“Twin to Twin is a compelling

power of one mother’s

story of motherhood, told

love and resilience against

with passion, precision, and

all odds.”

power.”

- AMARCELLE SOVIERO,

-MARYA HORNBACHER New York Times Bestselling author of Wasted and Madness

Editor-in-Chief

- KENNETH J MOISE JR MD Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, McGovern School of Medicine– UT Health Co-Director, The Fetal Center, Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital

PRAISE

“Anyone in the field of fetal medicine, or any field of medicine for that matter, should consider reading Crystal’s book. It is an uninhibited disclosure of a mother’s experience with a life-threatening pregnancy complication.

Not only does it show the sometimes yawning chasm between what doctors counsel and what patients hear, but Crystal reveals it with clarity, wit, and empathy. Her story displays the extraordinary courage of a pregnant mother and the enduring compassion, talent, and wisdom of her team of providers. It is an uplifting example of what humans do best: care from each other. This book is Crystal’s way of caring by sharing her experience so that others can benefit.”

- STEPHEN P. EMERY, MD. Director, Center for Innovative Fetal Intervention

MEDI A A PPEARANCES

AS SEEN I N/ON

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

2018 S PEA KI N G ENGA GEMEN T S

18TH NATIONAL NEONATAL NURSES CONFERENCE

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF HOUSTON SERIES:

PATIENT ADVOCACY AND PREGNANCY STRUGGLES

WOMEN’S

EMPOWERMENT

EXPO

NEW NURSE GRADUATE KEYNOTE

MARCH OF DIMES:

FAMILY AMBASSADOR EVENT

PREEMIE PARENT ALLIANCE SUMMIT

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF HOUSTON:

LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE SPEAKER

2019 S PEAKI N G ENGA GEMEN T S >

LECTURE SERIES:

McGOVERN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE UTHEALTH

HAND TO HOLD FAMILY EVENT SPEAKER

MOM 2.0 SPEAKER

PAR TNER S HIP O RGANI Z AT I ON S & AM BA SSA DORS

I NFL UENCERS

NATALIE DIAZ CEO, and Founder of Twiniversity

DANIELLE BUSBY TLC Reality show star Outdaughtered, Quintuplet Mom

YAMILA JACKSON CEO of Nurtured by Designs

KELLI KELLEY Executive Director of Hand to Hold

Where are we going?

1 BOOK APPEARANCES

2 TEACHING MOM CENTERED 3 EVENTS

•

Barnes & Noble Houston West Gray Signing (Jan.)

•

Mommie Series Moms of Multiples (Mar.)

•

Houston Motherhood Center

•

Social Mamma App

•

Houston Latina Bloggers

•

Solo Mujeres

•

Oh! Latinas

•

Houston Young Professionals

•

Crystal will be teaching the Twiniversity --Expectant Twins Parents Class launching in February 2019. (Twiniversity Reaching over 2 million families)

•

Mom 2.0

Contact Information (281) 798-8726 TwintoTwin@crystalduffy.net www.crystalduffy.net

To book Crystal for speaking engagements and other appearances please email Bianca Bucaram, bianca@bucaramprg.com MEDIA & INTERVIEWS Bianca Bucaram Bucaram Public Relations Group (713) 898-6552 bianca@bucaramprg.com