Pregnancy can be a scary time. After all, you’re carrying a life inside that you are the sole person responsible for.
It’s double the fear when you’re carrying twins. And when that two-for-one package deal comes with a super rare complication, it suddenly becomes terrifying..
For one Texas mom-to-be, the second-trimester ultrasound gave her and her husband the shock of their lives – they knew they were having twins, but it turned out their baby girls were conjoined.
A one-out-of-50,000 chance, Sandy and Jesse Fuller found themselves being rushed for a wide-range of prenatal testing so doctors could see how the girls were connected. The twins were connected at the abdomen, and from imaging, appeared to share liver tissues.
The couple said their faith helped them through this entire journey.
When I found out they were going to be conjoined, I trusted God’s plan. I knew he was going to work it out all the way to the end,” Sandy said.
Doctors knew that the danger was high for Sandy and the girls. “Conjoined twin pregnancies are incredibly rare and very high-risk,” explained Dr. Roopali Donepudi who led the delivery team.
Sandy Fuller holds her conjoined twins, Ella and Eliza.
The babies, named Ella and Eliza, were born March 1st via c-section when Sandy was 35 weeks. They both weighed 5 pounds 10 ounces. They were immediately taken to the neonatal intensive care unit at the Texas Children’s Hospital Pavilion for Women.
It was there that a group of neonatologists, NICU nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, dietitians and both physical and occupational therapists – who had spent 2 months planning and preparing for the delivery – now focused on getting the babies healthy enough for separation surgery.
According to Dr. Michael Belfort, OB/GYN-in-chief at the hospital, the “delivery of conjoined twins is very complex, and we are incredibly privileged to have cutting-edge facilities and exceptionally skilled people for this type of coordinated prenatal care and birth.”
Doctors prepare to separate conjoined twins, Ella and Eliza.
For the first three months following their birth, Ella and Eliza were in the NICU as doctors readied for surgery.
On the day of the surgery in June, the worried parents spent time with their daughters, and took a moment to hold hands with the surgical team and pray. Then the girls were taken back for the six-hour-long surgery.
The separation was a success. A team of seven surgeons, four anesthesiologists, four surgical nurses and two surgical technicians was led by Dr. Alice King, a pediatric surgeon.
Our team began planning and preparing for this operation before these babies were even born,” King said.
“From conducting simulations of the procedure to collaborating extensively with our colleagues in anesthesiology, maternal-fetal medicine, neonatology and radiology, we have all been working together to achieve one common goal: the best outcome for Ella and Eliza.”
That preparation and skill allowed Sandy and Jesse to finally hold their daughters separately just three days after the surgery.
Ella and Eliza Fuller following their successful surgery. Photo courtesy of the Fuller family
Sandy and Jesse held their baby daughters separately for the first time just three days after the surgery.
The girls, the hospital said, have ‘continued to make excellent progress toward healing, growing.”
For what must have been the scariest moments in their life, the family has nothing but thanks for the hospital and its staff. Sandy said it ‘was a place of comfort and hope’ for their family, along with their older daughter, Emilia.
“From the beginning to the end, we were guided, informed and comforted,” she said. “We are so grateful God put some of the best doctors and nurses in our lives to give our girls the best chance at life.”
The best, though, was when the family could finally take their baby girls home.
“Super excited, it’s hard to express into words just how excited we are,” Jesse said. “It’s been 134 days so the feelings are overwhelming.”
It’s amazing how this family found the will and strength to get through this. The baby girls will have such an amazing life.
For a look at the family’s story, watch below.
