After 20 hours of surgery, doctors separated 13-month-old twins Jadon and Anias McDonald, who were born joined at the head. The boys are recovering at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. Their mom and dad are just now becoming used to having two separate babies.
“When they told me they were wheeling Jadon up first, it took me a second to comprehend. I actually asked why they rearranged the room because I hadn't really internalized the idea that there would be two beds in here,” mom Nicole McDonald wrote on Facebook. “Happy rebirth day.”
Related: Couple expecting conjoined twin girls hope they can beat the odds
McDonald was 17 weeks pregnant she learned she was carrying twins. When doctors requested a repeat ultrasound, they got a shock — her twins were connected by the head, a condition known as craniopagus twins.
“I cried for two hours after I found out. My mind was flooded with questions, with doubts, with fears, but then, with hope,” McDonald wrote on her GoFundMe.
McDonald found Dr. James Goodrich at Montefiore Medical Center, who had successfully separated Carl and Clarence Aguirre, another set of craniopagus twins, in 2004. In total, he has separated seven sets of these twins. Craniopagus twins are rare, accounting for one out of every 2.5 million births but almost half, 40 percent, are still births.
Related: Formerly conjoined twins thrive one year after epic surgery
The boys, Jadon and Anias, were born in an unscheduled C-section at 32 weeks on September 9, 2015.
After the boys were stabilized, McDonald and her husband Christian left their home in Braidwood, Ill. outside of Chicago, and moved closer to the hospital in the Bronx. Having conjoined twins made it difficult for the McDonalds to work because the two require much care and at a great expense. The surgery costs around $2.5 million.
After much preparation, the boys went into surgery on October 12. A team of 40 medical professionals, led by Goodrich, separated the twins. Jadon emerged first, while Anais required more surgery.
Related: Mom of conjoined twins can't wait 'to hold two individual babies' after surgery
While they are both in recovery, it’s too soon to tell exactly how the boys will heal.
“I should feel so happy...TWO SEPARATE BABIES!!!...and yet I ache with the uncertainty of the future. I didn't cry until the surgeon's left the room. I was barely able to even utter the words ‘thank you’ because of the pit that still sits heavy in my stomach. We are standing on the brink of a vast unknown,” McDonald wrote.
Yet, only a few hours later, McDonald gathered her strength and felt ready for the future.
“Now it's time to step forward into the new chapter of our life. I'm ready to fight and I know you are too.”
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