The birth of Siamese twins is considered extremely rare. This happens about once in every 200,000 births.
Unfortunately, the chances of Siamese twins surviving are very slim. Up to 50% of these twins are born dead, and only 25% are able to survive after birth.
Twins Erin and Abby Delaney were born in the summer of 2016. In most cases, when Siamese twins have their own organs, independent circulatory and nervous systems, modern medicine is able to separate them and make it possible to lead a full life.
In the case of Erin and Eddie, this was quite problematic – the twins had common skull bones.
Of course, without an operation, a more or less normal life for the sisters was out of the question. However, the operation required to separate them came with risks that could affect one or even both children.
In the end, a unique and complex operation to separate Siamese twins with a common head was performed at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
It took a whole team of highly qualified surgeons and specialists for 11 hours of painstaking work to separate children, prevent massive bleeding and postoperative complications. Fortunately, thanks to the skill and brilliant skills of the doctors and medical staff, the girls were successfully separated.
“Despite what they have been through, they are very happy girls,” said their mother, Heather Delaney.
Five months after the operation, the twins went home. There they could start their new life and grow up in the care and love of their parents and other family members.
According to Heather, both girls are developing well.
“They are not afraid of people,” she said. “It’s amazing how brave they are after all they’ve been through.”
In the first time after birth, the twins had to adapt to their condition. Each of the sisters was always involved in what happened to the other.
Now Erin can sit up and Abby has learned to roll over. They had a hard time, but the twins turned out to be very strong and stubborn, and now they got a new chance in life!
Obviously, none of this would have been possible without the amazing work of the doctors and the support of the twins’ parents. Share this article so Erin and Abby’s incredible story will inspire others!
