Minnesotan Amber McCullough gave birth to conjoined twin girls, Olivia and Hannah, via cesarean section Wednesday, Aug. 26. Doctors quickly moved afterwards to separate the two but unfortunately Olivia didn't make it.
According to McCullough, she didn't know that she was carrying conjoined twins until she was in her second trimester. When she found out, the doctors told her that Olivia would not survive because she has a non-functional heart which had missing valves and only a single ventricle. While the twins had separate kidneys and hearts, they shared an abdomen, liver and intestinal tract.
After giving birth, she sent KARE-TV a message about the status of the twins, which were delivered at the Colorado Children's Hospital, saying that she will not be releasing more details until she is discharged and feeling up for it. However, McCullough wanted everyone to know that Hannah is alive but is in critical condition. Still, she is optimistic because she believes in the doctors in the hospital and the power of prayer.
"Could you please ask that the public pray as she waits for her life this week?" she asked KARE 11's Lindsey Seavert.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, cases of conjoined twins occur about once every 200,000 live births. Given that 40 to 60 percent of the time conjoined twins arrive stillborn, Olivia and Hannah may be considered lucky. Still, separations by surgery are generally rare. Since 1950, it is estimated that at least one of the twins will survive the process around 75 percent of the time.
McCullough was in the U.S. Army for eight years before going to law school and becoming an attorney. Aside from Olivia and Hannah, she has a six-year-old son named Tristan from an earlier relationship. The twins' dad is no longer in the picture either.
The Minnesota mom is currently living at the Ronald McDonald House in Aurora. She's been staying there since early August and is being cared for by her stepmother. McCullough said that Tristan is expected to move to Denver soon to be with her.
McCullough has it tough as a single mom, most especially with the kind of care Hannah will be needing and now that she's on medical leave. She has set up a GoFundMe account, however, to help defray some of the medical costs.
