Twin sisters were born joined at the chest and sharing vital organs: Here is how they look after separation
These conjoined twins were born joined from the chest to the pelvis and shared several vital organs. At first glance, separation seemed impossible, but a team of specialists decided to take the risk.
In total, they had three legs: two of their own and a shared one in the center. After the surgery, each sister kept one leg.
Today, the girls are 10 years old. Each gets around with the help of a prosthetic leg and a wheelchair. Curious to see what they look like now? Their photo is in the first comment.
Erika and Eva Sandoval were born in August 2014 in California. They were conjoined twins, joined from the chest to the pelvis. Below the chest, they shared the same body: a single liver, a single digestive system, a shared bladder, and even a single uterus.
In total, they had three legs: two of their own and one in the center. Although each had her own spine, heart, and lungs, they could only move and live together.
Doctors knew from the start that without surgery, the girls would have no chance at a normal life. But the separation was incredibly risky: the slightest error could have cost both of them their lives.
For several years, doctors monitored the sisters until their bodies had recovered sufficiently. It wasn’t until December 2016, when Erika and Eva were two years old, that surgeons decided to proceed with the operation.
Surgeons at Stanford Children’s Hospital performed a single procedure that lasted approximately eighteen hours.
A team of more than fifty specialists gradually separated their internal organs, blood vessels, and tissues to create a complete, functional body for each girl. After the operation, the girls underwent extensive rehabilitation: they learned to sit, move, and play all over again. Today, Erika and Eva lead full lives. They go to school, love to draw, and spend time with other children. Each uses a prosthetic and a wheelchair, yet both remain incredibly cheerful and active.
Their parents say that, despite all the challenges, the girls have maintained an extraordinary bond; they feel close even when apart, because since birth they have been united not only by blood but also by the strength of love and a zest for life.
