Sonia's 'mystery illness'

Sonia Gray. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Sonia Gray was presenting a Big Wednesday Lotto draw when her ankles became cankles at 33 weeks' pregnant with twins.

"I was wearing high shoes and my ankles started swelling and I looked down and I couldn't see the straps of my shoes - they were completely lost. People were worried about me".

The model, who also co-hosts TV1's Wheel of Fortune, called her specialist and had her blood pressure and protein levels checked promptly.

The tests revealed pre-eclampsia and for the next few days, Gray was in and out of hospital for scans to make sure she and the babies were okay.

A week later, and six weeks before her due date, Gray was induced and had two beautiful baby girls, Thandie (2.17kg) and Inez (2.2kg).

They spent two weeks in neonatal intensive care, but have since gone home and are now nine weeks and thriving.

"I look at them every day and I think, 'How did I get so lucky?"'

Gray was on blood pressure pills for three weeks but is now free of pre-eclampsia.

She remembers doing internet research about the "mystery illness" and could not believe how common it was and how little people knew about it.

"I probably would have died if I was in a Third World country and the babies might not have made it," she says.

Gray hopes new research will help save lives.