A pair of conjoined twins, AmieLynn Rose and JamieLynn Rae Finley, were successfully separated during a complex operation that marked a surgical first for Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The infants, who were born prematurely to parents Amanda Arciniega and James Finley at the nearby Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital on October 3rd, were joined along their abdomens and shared skin, muscle, and intra-abdominal organs, including a liver.
The twins' condition at birth is rare, and although health officials believe the incidence of conjoined twins is underreported globally, current statistics indicate that this occurs in about one of every 50,000 to 200,000 births. Of conjoined twins who survive birth, about 25% live long enough to be eligible for separation surgery, according to the National Institutes of Health.
The separation surgery of AmieLynn and JamieLynn involved a team of 25 medical professionals, including six surgeons, who carried out the delicate operation over the course of 11 hours. The team was divided and assigned to focus on either AmieLynn or JamieLynn's individual surgeries once the separation procedure was complete, the hospital said.
"This is a historic, amazing day," said Wini King, senior vice president and chief of communications, diversity, equity and inclusion for the Cook Children's Health Care System, at a news conference held on Wednesday.
"This is a magical moment for Cook Children's," echoed Rick Merrill, the president and CEO of the hospital, in his own remarks at the conference.
The twins, who are recovering well, had already defied a number of odds prior to undergoing surgery this week. Their condition at birth is rare, and although health officials believe the incidence of conjoined twins is underreported globally, current statistics indicate that this occurs in about one of every 50,000 to 200,000 births. Of conjoined twins who survive birth, about 25% live long enough to be eligible for separation surgery, according to the NIH.
"We are very happy with their progress at this point," said Dr. José Iglesias, the lead surgeon on the Finley twins' case. "We are focusing on their healing. They obviously have risks for several things but we're keeping an eye on those."
"They're going to grow up into the little girls that they're supposed to be: independent and feisty, like they've already shown us," Iglesias added, drawing a burst of knowing laughter from the audience. "So, we're very thankful with that so far."
The success of the separation surgery is a major achievement for the medical team at Cook Children's Medical Center, and a huge relief for the parents of the twins. The procedure was a complex one, requiring a great deal of skill and precision from the surgeons involved. The fact that the twins are now recovering well is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire medical team.
Conjoined twins are a rare phenomenon, and the chances of survival for these infants are often low. The success of the separation surgery for AmieLynn and JamieLynn is a cause for celebration, not only for the parents and the medical team, but for everyone who has been following the story. The twins' recovery is a reminder of the incredible advances that have been made in the field of medicine and the dedication of the medical professionals who work tirelessly to save lives.
The Cook Children's Medical Center has said that the twins will likely need additional surgeries in the future but they are expected to grow into independent and feisty little girls. This is a heartwarming news for the parents and the whole medical team, who worked so hard to give
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