If you met the twins Isabelle and Abby Carlson for the first time, you definitely would not think that there is anything unusual about them. They are alike, it’s true. In the rest, the sisters seem to be perfectly normal 10-year-old girls.
The sisters are the conjoined twins. The inner organs of the girls were almost mixed in two bodies!
10 years ago, the doctors at the Mayo Clinic underwent special training to perform an incredibly complex operation. They were preparing to separate these Siamese twins.
The doctors assured the girl’s parents that the situation was under control. All involved people understood the potential risk.
“We had separate teams of surgeons, one — for the heart, the second — for the pancreas, the third fo- the liver, the fourth — for the plastics,” said Dr. Moir.
On May 12, 2006, 17 surgeons performed an operation that lasted 12 hours, which fortunately appeared to be successful. The girls only needed two weeks of rehabilitation, and they were able to return home to North Dakota.
10 years later, the Carlson family cannot be more proud of the way their girls grew up. Isabelle and Abby laugh a lot, love to learn, but most importantly — they are completely healthy!
The girl’s parents noticed that they held hands during the first weeks of life.Probably, this gesture of girls is a symbol of deep communication.
They will grow up to be strong, intelligent women. Undoubtedly, each of them will choose her way, but surely the sisters will always be close to each other.
