Having twins is already considered rare, but the occurrence of conjoined twins is even more extraordinary, with statistics indicating that it happens only once in every 50,000 to 60,000 births. When Sandy and Jesse Fuller received the surprising news that their babies would be born conjoined, they were taken aback.
Despite the unexpected situation, they held onto hope and confidence that everything would eventually work out. Thankfully, they had an exceptional team of medical professionals dedicated to doing whatever was necessary to assist these precious baby girls. Given the rarity of conjoined twins, this specialized 17-person team, comprising seven surgeons and four anesthesiologists, prepared three months ahead of Sandy’s delivery date to ensure the best possible outcome.
“Our team began planning and preparing for this operation before these babies were even born,” Dr. Alice King, lead surgeon on the operation and a pediatric surgeon at Texas Children’s Hospital, said. “From conducting simulations of the procedure, to collaborating extensively with our colleagues in anesthesiology, maternal-fetal medicine, neonatology and radiology, we have all been working together to achieve one common goal: the best outcome for Ella and Eliza.”
“[When] we found out they were conjoined, it was hard and difficult, but we trusted that God was going to work in the entire journey, so it was OK,” Sandy said.
Ella and Eliza were born connected at the abdomen, but they also shared liver tissues. Their birth took place in March, but they weren’t able to have surgery until June.
When the day of their surgery arrived, it was both nerve-wracking and relieving. Thankfully, the preparations the doctors took paid off and, in six hours, these sweet girls were separated!
“It’s hard to explain in words exactly how excited we are,” Jesse Fuller said. “It’s been 134 days, so the feelings are overwhelming.”
Three days after surgery, Mom and Dad were finally able to gold their daughters separately. This unbelievably precious moment was captured on camera, and the joy they’re feeling truly comes through.
“It was an overwhelming feeling — excitement,” Sandy said. “It was an emotion of gratitude, more so, because I was just so grateful that I could finally hold my baby on her back.”
Sandy and Jesse aren’t the only ones thrilled to have the twins home. Their eldest daughter, Emi, is very much overjoyed to have “her babies” living under the same roof as her.
“I know it’s going to be another chaotic moment once we get home, but we’re excited about that chaotic moment,” Jesse said. “I’m kind of bracing myself because I know it’s going to be a wild house pretty soon, but I’m excited.”
Watch the heartwarming moment Sandy held one of the twins separately in the video below.
