Photo submitted to Times Observer Christi (Spackman) Carson holds one of her twin girls in this file photo. On her hips can be seen two ventricular assist devices. Carson is undergoing plasmapharesis at UPMC Presbyterian to prepare her for a heart transplant.

Christi (Spackman) Carson’s twins are almost 8 months old.

They are doing well.

But, for almost their entire lives, Carson has known she would need a heart transplant.

Carson, a nurse and 2002 graduate of Warren Area High School, was diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy shortly before the twins were due in April.

Her treatment is currently unique in the United States and very rare worldwide.

“She is one of less than 20 people in the world that has two ventricular assist devices (VADs),” her step-father, Mark Woody, of Warren, said. “She is the only person in the United States that has two of them.”

The biventricular assist “keeps the blood flowing at a constant, continuous rate,” Woody said. “There’s no compression of the heart.”

Carson, a resident of Ashville, N.Y., recently returned to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh.

She is undergoing plasmapharesis to prepare her body for the eventual transplant.

“They are pulling off the plasma to get the antibodies out,” Woody, who was staying with the twins in Pittsburgh this week, said. “It is to get her to the point where hopefully they can find a match for the transplant. Two of the antibodies that she has are two of the hardest to get rid of.”

Carson can’t be listed for a heart until the plasmapharesis has done its job.

“She’s not actively on the list because of how high her antibodies are,” Woody said. “Once they get her antibodies down, they will list her.”

She will undergo the procedure for about a month — five days a week.

Then, she will be allowed to return home for a month to give her body time to rest and recover.

“It’s exhausting,” Woody said. “She gets really tired really easy.”

Another month of plasmapharesis will follow.

“After the third round, she will have to stay in the hospital until they find her a heart,” he said.

Antibodies are not good when preparing for a transplant, but they are necessary to protect the body.

“Right now, they are allowing them to take the babies in to see her,” Woody said. “At some point, she’ll be so susceptible to everything, that they won’t be able to go in to see her.”

Asked what people can do for the family, Woody immediately replied, “Prayers.”

There are donation sites set up in Carson’s name and there are “Designer Bag Bingo” events set up for 6 p.m. (doors open at 4 p.m.) Monday, Jan. 23, at Lakewood (N.Y.) American Legion Post #1286, and at noon (doors open at 11 a.m.) Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Eagles Club in Warren, with proceeds to benefit the family. Tickets are $35 for individuals and $30 each for a table of eight or more.

Information about the events can be found on Facebook and Twitter and by sending email to bjb0166@gmail.com.