Two sets of twins have overcome the odds to have normal lives.
Abby and Erin Delaney, both 6, completed kindergarten in June. Their parents celebrated the milestone and the fact that they are still alive today.
Back in 2017, the Irish conjoined twins were just weeks old when they underwent an operation to separate their attached heads, a fetal defect known as craniopagus. The chance of survival was small after their 17-hour surgery at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
Abby and Erin fully recovered and are now happy normal kids.
“We are beyond proud of them and all they’ve overcome,” Heather, the twins’ mother, said in a post on Facebook accompanied by a photo showing the newly born girls’ heads still fused more than six years ago, Irish Central reported.
More impressive than the Delaney twins were Joy and Joyce Magsino of Pandi, Bulacan.
The twin girls, 15, went up the stage during a recent moving up ceremony for grade 3 students to receive medals recognizing their perseverance in studying, the GMA TV show “Good News” reported.
The video of Joy and Joyce going up the stage to receive the awards went viral after being shown on TV.
Mom Jhomarie said she was very happy to learn that many people saw her daughters recognized as honor students in their school.
For their part, the conjoined twins are determined to finish their studies despite their difficult conditions. They wish to become actresses someday.
Unlike the Irish twins who were attached at the top of their heads, the Magsino sisters’ are attached on the sides of their faces, each facing the opposite direction. When one of them walks forward, the other has to walk backward so both can move.
The twins and their mother hope for the separation of the children’s heads if it is safe and if good Samaritans can help in shouldering the very high cost of surgery and treatment.