Mother of twins, who were successfully separated, gets one of the best Mother's Day gift. Doctors revealed that one of her daughter was strong enough to be taken back home.
Knatalye Hope Mata and Adeline Faith Mata were born in April 2014 but were joined at the chest and abdomen. The twins have been in the Texas Children's Hospital since they were born. Their mother, Elysse Mata, revealed she was shocked when she found out during her pregnancy that the twins were joined.
Doctors at the hospital revealed that the twins shared several major organs including liver, lungs, colon, pelvis, intestines and the lining of the heart. In mid-February this year, a team of 26 doctors performed a surgery to separate the twins that lasted for about 26 hours.
"This is the first time a separation surgery for thoraco-omphalo-ischiopagus twins with this particular configuration has been successful," said Dr. Darrell Cass, pediatric surgeon, co-director of Texas Children's Fetal Center.
Dr. Cass revealed that the surgery involved a lot of challenges as the twins shared several organs. The team of doctors, who operated on the twins, was preparing for months before the surgery; the experts also built a 3D model of their vital organs before performing the surgery.
In preparation of the separation, doctors performed a surgery in December 2014, which involved attaching custom-made tissue expanders to the abdomen and chest of the twins. Doctors reveal that the tissue expanders helped stretching the skin of the twins before the separation surgery.
Elysse expressed her gratefulness to the doctors who performed the surgery and gave hope to her conjoined twins to live separate lives.
After the separation, the twins remained in the hospital but on Friday, May 8, which was just a couple of days before Mother's Day, hospital officials revealed to the twins' parents that Knatalye Hope Mata was strong enough to be discharged. Elysse was delighted to get the news that one of her daughters was ready to be discharged.
However, Adeline Faith Mata will have to stay in the hospital, probably for the next few months.
