An American family's year-long tribulation has finally come to an end as doctors in Houston performed a miraculous surgery to separate 10-month-old conjoined twins.
Born in April 2014, twins Knatalye Hope and Adeline Faith Mata who shared several organs will finally have separate bodies.
Parents Eric and Elysse Mata can now breathe easy after a pioneering surgery was performed successfully, separating the twins who shared lungs, liver, intestines, chest wall, pelvic region and pericardial sac, which lines the heart.
"This is the first time a separation surgery for thoraco-omphalo-ischiopagus twins with this particular configuration has been successful," said Dr. Darrell Cass, pediatric surgeon, co-director of Texas Children's Fetal Center.
Performed at the Texas Children's Hospital on Feb. 17, the surgery lasted over 24 hours and has given Hope and Faith a new lease on life; however, the operation was not without its challenges.
The 24-member team, which includes 12 surgeons, eight surgical nurses and six anesthesiologists, had been preparing for the delicate surgery for several months. The team even had a 3D model of the twins' organs built to simulate the separation surgery.
The surgical team worked on Hope and Faith for 23 hours and 26 hours, respectively. Nearly 18 hours into the surgery, the official separation of the twins, who were joined at the chest, took place.
Five hours into the surgery, the team got a scare as Faith's blood pressure started dropping. The team had to pump the little girl's heart manually to revive her. Much to everyone's relief, Faith recovered in five to eight minutes.
"We are so excited and absolutely so thankful for your prayers, your donations, your encouraging messages! All we can say is that God is amazing and our babies are doing great," thanked the parents on the Facebook page for the twins. "We are ready for God to take us through the next steps during this journey one day at the time."
The twins will remain hospitalized until they are strong enough to leave. They are expected to be on ventilator and in the ICU for the next few months. They will also have additional surgery later on.
To help support the Mata family, you can donate on the Fundraising for Hope and Faith gofundme page.
