Twin sisters When Abby and Erin Delaney were born, they were joined at the head. Their parents went to tremendous efforts to secure their survival and give them the best life imaginable.
They have surmounted several challenges to discover their own happiness, and their incredible bravery and unwavering determination have amazed both their family and the medical personnel.
Although their parents were overjoyed to find they were expecting, there were some complications.
Heather and Riley, a newlywed couple, were overjoyed to find that she was pregnant only two months after their wedding. During the ultrasound, they discovered she was carrying not one but two gorgeous bundles of joy, which made them even happy.
Given that Heather’s sisters are identical twins, it wasn’t entirely unexpected, but learning that the twins were related caught them off guard. After consulting with a specialist, the twins’ connection at the top of their heads, known as craniopagus conjoined twins, was confirmed. This form of conjoined twin is found in only 2% of conjoined twins, making it highly rare.
“When we first found out,” Heather said, “we went into shock and didn’t know what to think. I thought this didn’t happen to people; it’s something you only see on TV.”
The couple was told that their newborn children had only a 2% chance of survival and that they might need a rare separation surgery. Although the treatment had previously been performed, it had not yet been carried out at their local hospital. However, if separation was a possibility, the specialist suggested considering the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
They share not only the skull and its coverings but also the sagittal sinus, a crucial vein that runs down the middle and accounts for 20% of your heart’s output, according to Dr Gregory Heuer. Heather had several procedures to discover more, including a high-resolution fetal ultrasound and fetal echocardiogram to examine the twins’ hearts.
When our daughters were born, everyone was looking for the best way to raise them, she claims.
During Heather’s 26-week visit, an ultrasound revealed that the girls’ umbilical cords had become entwined. The hospital personnel was concerned about the situation and advised her to stay in Philadelphia so that the twins could be properly monitored. Abby and Erin were born on July 24, 2016, ten weeks earlier than expected.
“The team had been prepared for breathing tubes and all sorts of things for them,” the babies’ mother claimed, “but when they were born, they came out crying.”
In October, the twins underwent surgery to separate the fused section of their heads. As part of the separation procedure, they carried out a number of further operations over the next five months.
The sisters were successfully separated on June 6, 2017, more than ten months after their birth, following a grueling 11-hour surgery. A team of medical specialists collaborated closely to perform this sophisticated and dangerous treatment. The most difficult part of the procedure was over, but the weeks that followed were not without their difficulties as the girls healed.
As soon as their conditions permitted, Erin and Abby began intense physical and occupational therapy, and five months later, the girls were finally allowed to leave the hospital, marking a critical turning point in their journey.
“Riley and I are happy to see how well the girls are doing today,” Heather said, “despite the fact that this has been a long trip with many ups and downs. We are grateful to the personnel at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, as well as the support and encouragement shown by our family, friends, and the community throughout this difficult time.”
The twin girls just received their kindergarten diplomas.
After overcoming various challenges and undergoing numerous surgeries, the tiny girls are now living a life that resembles normalcy. Despite the fact that they will require additional plastic and reconstructive treatments as they age, the twins have finally arrived at their happy life.
Abby and Erin are developing more slowly than average youngsters due to their sickness. Erin completed the incredible accomplishment of walking at the age of five, while Abby is now taking her first steps toward learning to walk.
“We’re their parents, and we just see them for who they are, not what’s wrong with them,” says their mother.
Despite all odds, the girls have already graduated from kindergarten, a fantastic achievement that many people thought was out of reach for them. “We want to show that there is a chance they can be separated and eventually lead healthy and happy lives,” their mother stated. She went on to say, “The sky is the limit for my girls.”
This indicates that, while life is full of difficult events, we can overcome them with persistence and optimism. Erin and Abby’s parents have been through every stage of this painful journey, and they now want to help other parents who are going through similar trauma.
According to Heather, “our goal in sharing our story has always been to try and reach any other parents facing the same type of pregnancy we were to give them hope.”
Twins have long fascinated people, and there are many fascinating and moving stories about them and their surroundings. Consider this extraordinary lady, who joyfully gave birth to twin baby daughters on a very special day of the year.