Conjoined twins Knatalye Hope Mata and Adeline Faith Mata were connected at the chest and abdomen when they were born, according to the U.K. publication Daily Mail.
The formerly conjoined twins were reportedly separated when they were just ten months old and are the first to successfully undergo the 26-hour surgery.
A team at Texas Children’s Hospital separated Knatalye and Adeline Faith on February 17, according to ABC News. The twins reportedly celebrated their first birthday in the hospital last month.
“We know how much planning and time went into this surgery and we are so blessed to be at a place like Texas Children’s where we have access to the surgeons and caretakers that have made this dream a reality,” stated the twins’ mother Elysse.
“We also want to express our gratitude to all of the people that have prayed and provided support to our family over the last ten months.”
12 surgeons reportedly operated on the Mata twins while six anesthesiologists and eight surgical nurses were present to assist. “Nightline” was present, along with Elysse, her husband and 20 family members.
In order to prepare for the surgery, Knatalye and Adeline reportedly underwent a five-hour procedure in December to place custom-made tissue expanders into their chest and abdomen. The tissue expanders reportedly helped to stretch the babies’ skin in preparation for their surgery.
“This is the first time a separation surgery for thoraco-omphalo-ischiopagus twins with this particular configuration has been successful,” stated paediatric surgeon Dr. Darrell Cass.
“This surgery was not without its challenges with the girls sharing several organ systems. Our team has been preparing for this surgery for months and we’ve done everything from working with our radiology experts to build a 3-D model of their organs, to conducting simulations of the actual separation surgery.'
Both Knatalye and Adeline had reportedly been in the pediatric intensive care unit, but Knatalye was released last Friday.
Elysse Mata was reportedly shocked when she had learned that her twins were conjoined.
“I was speechless, it was so unexpected” stated the mother of two.
