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(Photo: TN) |
The image features 5-month-old American conjoined twins, Abbigail and Isabelle, in the arms of their parents just minutes before they were taken to the operating table in hopes of achieving independent lives.
The twins are connected at the abdomen and chest, sharing a spleen, liver, bile duct, and part of the intestine. As of May 13, they began their recovery process after surgery in separate beds. Approximately 30 medical professionals participated in the 7-hour surgery at Mayo Clinic in the United States. Fortunately, the twins have two separate hearts.
Pre-surgery images showed Isabelle’s heart touching her sister’s body. The separation of the liver was the most complex part of the operation. Doctors now believe that the chances of both twins surviving are very high, estimated at 90 to 95%.
