Conjoined twins separated in successful surgery
NEW YORK (AP/WCMH) – The mother of a set of conjoined twins who were attached at the head says they have been separated following a procedure at a New York City hospital.
Nicole McDonald wrote in a Friday morning Facebook post that her 13-month old sons, Jadon and Anias, were separated following 16 hours of surgery at Montefiore Medical Center. She later posted a picture of Jadon alone in a hospital bed. She said Anias was still undergoing surgery to reconstruct his skull and make it whole.
The entire procedure took nearly 16 and a half hours to complete, CNN reports.
McDonald describes the atmosphere as “one of celebration mixed with uncertainty.” She says Jadon did better than Anias during the procedure, adding that doctors predict he may not be able to move part of his body at first.
McDonald says she aches “with the uncertainty of the future.”
On her Facebook page, Nicole wrote: “TWO SEPARATE BABIES!!!…and yet I ache with the uncertainty of the future. I didn’t cry until the surgeons left the room. I was barely able to even utter the words ‘thank you’ because of the pit that still sits heavy in my stomach. We are standing on the brink of a vast unknown. The next few months will be critical in terms of recovery and we will not know for sure how Anias and Jadon are recovering for many weeks.”