Conjoined twins, Erika and Eva Sandoval, have made medical history after a successful 17-hour surgery to separate them. The twins were born conjoined at the chest and abdomen, and after numerous tests and years of planning, doctors at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford were able to finally separate the two. The surgery was a risky one, as the two girls were conjoined by many shared organs, including a liver and parts of their small intestines. The twins were also conjoined at the diaphragm, which meant that the doctors had to carefully make sure that both girls were breathing on their own after the surgery.
The twins are now recovering in the intensive care unit, and their parents are overjoyed with the result. “We are so grateful to the doctors and nurses who made this miracle possible,” said the twins’ mother, Aida Sandoval. “We know that this surgery was a huge risk, but we are so glad that they are both doing well.” The surgery was just the latest in a long line of medical accomplishments for the Sandoval family. The twins’ older brother, Moises, was born with a heart defect, and underwent a successful heart transplant at the same hospital in 2017.
The medical team at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital has been praised for their work in successfully separating the twins. “This was an incredibly complex surgery, and I am so proud of the team for accomplishing this,” said lead surgeon Dr. Gary Hartman. “We are all very happy that Erika and Eva are recovering well.” The Sandoval family have high hopes for the future of their daughters. “We are so thankful that this surgery was a success,” said Aida Sandoval. “We can’t wait to see what these two brave girls will do in the future.”
