The birth of Erin and Abby was initially a challenge for their parents, Heather and Riley Delaney. The girls were born with a rare condition called craniopagus, where twins are joined at the head. Adding to the difficulty was the fact that the babies were born ten weeks premature and weighed just under a kilogram each.
The operation to separate the twins was a marathon, with surgeons spending 14 hours trying to separate the girls, given the complex connections between blood vessels and brain tissue.
The success went down in medical history as one of the first successful separations of craniopagus twins. After the surgery, the babies continued treatment, including skull reconstruction and physical therapy to learn basic motor skills.
Today, more than two years after their separation, Erin and Abby are growing up into happy, energetic girls. Their parents say they are finally able to give each daughter individual attention and enjoy the joys of everyday life.
Erin and Abby’s story has become an inspiration to many families facing rare and complex medical situations. It demonstrates not only the strength of the human spirit, but also the power of modern medicine to change lives for the better, even in the most unlikely situations.
