STANFORD, Calif. — Formerly conjoined twin sisters have seen each other for the first time since their successful separation surgery.
Eva and Erika Sandoval have been recovering in the same room, but in separate beds, at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Sanford, California since their Dec. 6 separation.
The girls, formerly conjoined at the chest, were used to seeing each other all the time, but since the 17-hour-long surgery, they have not been able to see each other clearly.
A video shared by
Wednesday shows the girls’ mother, Aida Sandoval, carrying Erika to lay next to her sister Eva. Eva then reaches into her sister’s blankets and pulls out a small red car. The girls smiled as the looked at each other’s faces for the first time since their separation.
“It was such a thrill for us to see the girls next to one another again,” Sandoval said, according to a post on
.
Doctors say the girls are doing well and have no significant complications. They are expected to recover in the PICU for about another week before moving to an acute care unit.
“Day by day they’re getting better,” said Alison Chiang, a doctor caring for Eva. “They’re happier and more playful and interactive with their family.”
Formerly Conjoined Sandoval Twins PICU reunionBreaking news - Update on the Sandoval Twins: Separated and now reunited again. See the first pictures of former conjoined twin girls Eva and Erika Sandoval since their marathon 17-hour separation surgery 1 week ago that involved a medical staff of 50. The girls have been recovering in separate beds in the same room in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Stanford Children's Health - Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford but could not see each other well. Here is the video we took when their intensive care team and parents carefully placed them side-by-side, carrying Erika to Eva’s bed to say hello. “It was such a thrill for us to see the girls next to one another again,” said the twins’ mother, Aida Sandoval. “They’re both doing well,” said Meghna Patel, MD, a fellow in the PICU who is caring for Erika. “They have had no significant complications.” Both girls are awake and breathing without ventilators. The medical team is monitoring to make sure both twins receive appropriate pain medication and that their wounds are healing well. They are expected to continue recovering from surgery in the PICU for about another week before being ready to move out of intensive care to an acute care unit. “Day by day they’re getting better,” said Alison Chiang, MD, a pediatric resident in the PICU who is caring for Eva. “They’re happier and more playful and interactive with their family.” Read more information: http://bit.ly/SConjoinedTwins
Posted by Stanford Children's Health - Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford on Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Source: Formerly conjoined twin girls see each other for the first time since separation by Rare on Rumble
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