"Conjoined twins are rare, and twins joined at the pelvis, as Ally and El were, are even a bit rarer," Dr. Caitlin A. Smith, co-director of the reconstructive pelvic medicine program at Seattle Children's, said in a statement."
""The surgery required to separate them is highly specialized, but I was excited because I knew we had the right team in place. We think about surgery all the time, but this required another level of coordination and teamwork.""
""The relief that they were separated and safe was incredible," said Smith. "Each twin got what they needed, thanks to our amazing, dedicated team who worked to ensure Ally and El's health and safety were priority number one.""
Fifteen-month-old conjoined twins Ally and El were separated after an 18-hour operation at Seattle Children's Hospital on Feb. 28, 2025. The twins were joined at the pelvis and shared abdomen and pelvic organs. A multidisciplinary team of more than 30 healthcare providers separated their gastrointestinal, gynecologic and urologic systems. Surgical planning involved months of preparation and nearly a year of coordination. The twins were discharged in late May 2025 and initially had movement restrictions; they worked with the rehabilitation and physical therapy teams as they healed and received additional treatment while developing at home.
Read at TODAY.com
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