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Ever since Eva and Erika Sandoval were born two years ago, their parents knew: Their conjoined daughters would one day be separated.
The girls were born sharing part of their digestive system; one uterus, liver, and bladder; as well as three legs, one of which sported a foot with seven toes.
The prospect of the twins’ surgery has been in talks for a long time.
Parents Aida and Arturo were 44 and 49 when the former became pregnant for the fourth time. The couple already had three children, all grown and in their 20s, at the time. But the religious couple didn’t question the thought twice. They would proceed with the pregnancy.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t long into the pregnancy that the couple realized their daughters would be born conjoined. The complications, as doctors could already predict, would be numerable after birth – and they were right.
Because of how Eva and Erika are connected, they have been hospitalized a myriad of times for urinary tract infections (the way their digestive system and bladder is formed right now causes infections easily) and even more times for dehydration.
Aida and Arturo knew that the girls had to be separated, not only to save them from suffering from these complications any longer, but also to give each of them an equal chance to an independent life.
Doctors hedged for a long time. Generally, conjoined twins are only attempted be separated in surgery if there is less than a 10% chance of death.
Eva and Erika had a 30% chance of dying from the separation procedure.
Yet, Aida and Arturo were determined to progress and even had shirts made for their daughters’ births that read “Arturo’s Angels: Born as One Soon to Be Two.”
Doctors agreed and began planning for an operation in January 2016. Because of many setbacks, infections, and complications, however, the date was only finalized in December.
Eva and Erika’s chances haven’t increased by waiting this long. On the contrary, the longer they remain connected, the greater risks they face in their health.
On Tuesday, December 6, 2016, the girls entered surgery at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. The entire family has gathered for the procedure and are still waiting for news.
We hope to hear from them soon.
You can watch a clip of the girls and their family here:
