Conjoined twins bounce back after separation surgery

Angelica Sabuco runs to kiss her sister Angelina on the cheek, and then runs away giggling. Angelina squeals and starts chasing her twin around the grass, determined to get her kiss in, too. It's hard to believe that a short while ago, these same two girls were struggling to even walk, and facing an uncertain future.

“That has been our goal all along.”

Angelina ("Inah") and Angelica ("Icah") were originally born in the Philippines, joined at the chest and abdomen, with livers, diaphragms and breast bones all fused. After a year of detailed planning and preparation--and involvement from nearly every service in the hospital-- the sisters were separated at Packard Children's in a 10-hour surgery on November 1, 2011. They had a joyful homecoming just two weeks later, and celebrated an unforgettable Christmas.

"They have really bounced back," said lead surgeon Gary Hartman, MD, of his sixth conjoined twins surgery. "Each time I see them in the clinic, they are more mobile and better adjusted. It's been a very smooth recovery."

"They love to run around, go out, and play with other children now," said mother Ginady Sabuco. "We are so grateful to Packard Children's."

The twins are re-expressing their distinct personalities—Icah the talkative one; Inah the quieter sister. They recently enjoyed their first-ever Easter egg hunt, and are looking forward to a 3rd birthday party in August—the first one as two separate little girls. "That is a great birthday gift!" said Ginady.

As part of their recovery, the girls had physical and occupational therapy to build their strength, endurance, gross- and fine-motor skills. They also continue to see Hartman and plastic surgeon Peter Lorenz, MD, to monitor the healing of their abdomens and chests.

"They are healing right on track," said Lorenz, who implanted a custom-made resorbable plate in each girl's chest where the sternum should be. The plates are expected to dissolve later this year as the grafted bones fuse. "We expect their chests to become more normally shaped as they grow, and have already seen a good improvement," added Lorenz.

Meanwhile, Icah and Inah continue to enjoy new 'firsts' being separated. "I love seeing them and knowing that they are now living life as normal two-year-olds," said Hartman. "That has been our goal all along."