"Sacramento Twin Girls Conjoined at the Head Successfully Separated in a 24-Hour Surgery"
In a remarkable medical feat, nine-month-old Abigail and Micaela Bachinskiy, conjoined twins joined at the skull, soft tissues, and brain, were successfully separated during a marathon 24-hour surgery at UC Davis Medical Center.
Dr. Michael Edwards, Pediatric Neurosurgeon at UC Davis Children's Hospital, emphasized the rarity of this anomaly, stating that very few children worldwide are born with such a condition, and only a smaller subset of them have the fortunate anatomy that allows for a separation attempt, with hopes of both babies emerging healthy.
The twins' parents, Liliya Miroshnik and Anatoliy Bachinskiy, discovered the conjoined condition during Liliya's 11th week of pregnancy. Despite the initial shock, the couple expressed their unwavering love for the babies and trusted in their faith to get through the challenges.
The twins, who will be 10 months old soon, have already displayed different personalities - one being more dominant while the other exudes a calm and gentle demeanor.
Before the surgery, meticulous preparations were made, including virtual reality dry runs and mock separation surgeries with dolls resembling Abigail and Micaela. The medical team was color-coded, with purple and orange representing each baby's side, ensuring a choreographed and well-practiced operation.
A tissue expander procedure was performed four months prior to the surgery to ensure enough skin for each baby after separation. This procedure allowed the gradual expansion of the scalp to accommodate the eventual division.
Following the successful separation, the twins continue to heal and defy odds while staying at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Their recovery is closely monitored, and the family places their faith in God's hands for a positive outcome.
This incredible achievement brings hope and inspiration, as the twins join the ranks of other successfully separated conjoined twins, such as Erika and Eva Sandoval, who underwent a similar procedure in 2016 and are now thriving first-graders.
