H04 -- January 2007 -- Conjoined Twins Update

Intro: In the spring of 2006 the world watched as doctors at Mayo Clinic gave separate lives to a pair of conjoined twins. It was a complicated surgery and an amazing example of faith, love and teamwork. Let’s check in with the Carlsen family to see how Abby and Belle are doing now, months after the operation.

TWO BABY GIRLS BORN FACE TO FACE. CONNECTED BELLY TO BELLY. SURGICAL SEPARATION WAS ABBY AND BELLE CARLSEN’S ONLY CHANCE AT NORMAL LIVES. BUT THE OPERATION WAS NOT EASY FOR THEIR PARENTS, AMY AND JESSE.

“HANDING THEM OFF AND NOT BEING WITH THEM FOR A FULL DAY.”

THE OPERATION WAS COMPLEX. THE TWIN’S HEARTS OVERLAPPED, AND THEIR LIVERS WERE CONNECTED. THEY SHARED BLOOD CIRCULATION, INTESTINES, BILE DUCTS AND MORE.

“CALL IT EXPERIENCE, INSTINCT, FAITH, IT WAS THERE. I KNEW WE COULD DO IT.”

DR. CHRISTOPHER MOIR [MOY-ER] HEADED THE 70-MEMBER TEAM THAT OPERATED ON ABBY AND BELLE.

“AND AT 4:28 THIS MORNING THEY BEGAN THEIR NEW, SEPARATE, BEAUTIFUL WONDERFUL LIVES.”

“I’M GOING TO GET YOU, GET YOU, GET YOU!”

NOW THAT THEY’RE IN THEIR OWN, SO TO SPEAK, ABBY AND BELLE ARE GROWING STRONG. RIGHT ON SCHEDULE FOR MILESTONES LIKE CRAWLING, WALKING AND TALKING.

“IT’S LIKE THEY’VE BEEN APART THE WHOLE TIME.”

“THEIR PERSONALITIES ARE COMPLETELY OPPOSITE.”

AND WHILE THEY DO HAVE THEIR OWN PERSONALITIES, THEY WILL ALWAYS SHARE A SPECIAL BOND.

“THEY KIND OF REACH FOR EACH OTHER. LAUGH AT EACH OTHER.”

ABBY AND BELLE MAY NEED SOME REVISIONAL SURGERIES AT SOME POINT, BUT DR. MOIR SAYS THEIR FUTURES ARE VERY BRIGHT.

“THEY’RE DOING GREAT. THEY’RE GOING TO BE NORMAL LITTLE GIRLS WITH A STORY TO TELL.”

AND THAT STORY IS UNFOLDING EVERY DAY.

“IT’S AMAZING. JUST LOOKING AT THEM EVERYDAY AND KNOWING WHAT WE WENT THROUGH. THEY’RE LITTLE MIRACLES.”

FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I’M VIVIEN WILLIAMS.

Tag: Abby and Belle recently celebrated their first birthday. You can learn more about the twins by visiting our Website at…

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