*UPDATE* - Photos - Once Conjoined Girls Separated in Philadelphia in November

Slide show of girls here http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/gallery?section=news/local&id=8878957&photo=1&pid=8926820 PHILADELPHIA - December 20, 2012 (WPVI) -- More than nine months after they were born joined at the lower chest and abdomen, twin girls made their public debut Thursday at the hospital where they were separated. Allison June and Amelia Lee Tucker, clad in animal-striped shirts and flowered headbands, were introduced during a news conference at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Allison, described by doctors and her parents as the smaller but feistier twin, was discharged from the hospital Monday. Her sister Amelia, who's larger and more reserved, needs a little more recovery time and will remain in the hospital into the new year. "Absolutely relieved," said Shellie Tucker. "It was overwhelming. It was emotional. It was such a relief to have it over with." The twins shared a chest wall, diaphragm, liver and pericardium, the membrane around the heart. Shellie Tucker was about 20 weeks into her pregnancy when she learned she was carrying conjoined twins. Prenatal screening tests at Children's Hospital, including ultrasound imaging and MRI, determined that they would be good candidates for separation. Planning for the separation surgery began months before the twins were delivered by cesarean section on March 1. Shortly after they were born, plastic surgeons inserted expanders under the girls' skin to increase the skin surface available to cover exposed organs after their separation. Shellie Tucker described the past year as a, "roller coaster ride", but said she was relieved now that her daughters are doing so well. "The burden is completely gone, and I am very, very happy," she said. Dr. Holly Hedrick led a team of 40 doctors, nurses and staff during the 7 hour separation surgery. She says seeing one become two was amazing. "It is an overwhelmingly dramatic moment when the tables spread and the babies go their separate ways," said Dr. Hedrick. "From the ultrasound starting off back in November to now, two separate healthy babies, I don't think that I could really ask for much more," said Greg Tucker. The family, including big brother Owen, were hoping to have both twins home for Christmas. "It's still a success," said Shellie. "We kept saying if we weren't going to have them home by Christmas, we wanted to know at least that they are both doing well, and that we will be going home soon. And know that is a miracle." "We totally expect them to have full, independent lives," Dr. Hedrick said. The surgery was the 21st successful separation of conjoined twins performed at the hospital. The first was in 1957. According to statistics provided by the hospital, conjoined twins occur once in every 50,000 to 60,000 births and about 70 percent are female. Online: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: http://www.chop.edu *Original Story* http://www.documentingreality.com/forum/f149/conjoined-twins-separated-philadelphia-115519/" />

Slide show of girls here http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/gallery?section=news/local&id=8878957&photo=1&pid=8926820 PHILADELPHIA - December 20, 2012 (WPVI) -- More than nine months after they were born joined at the lower chest and abdomen, twin girls made their public debut Thursday at the hospital where they were separated. Allison June and Amelia Lee Tucker, clad in animal-striped shirts and flowered headbands, were introduced during a news conference at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Allison, described by doctors and her parents as the smaller but feistier twin, was discharged from the hospital Monday. Her sister Amelia, who's larger and more reserved, needs a little more recovery time and will remain in the hospital into the new year. "Absolutely relieved," said Shellie Tucker. "It was overwhelming. It was emotional. It was such a relief to have it over with." The twins shared a chest wall, diaphragm, liver and pericardium, the membrane around the heart. Shellie Tucker was about 20 weeks into her pregnancy when she learned she was carrying conjoined twins. Prenatal screening tests at Children's Hospital, including ultrasound imaging and MRI, determined that they would be good candidates for separation. Planning for the separation surgery began months before the twins were delivered by cesarean section on March 1. Shortly after they were born, plastic surgeons inserted expanders under the girls' skin to increase the skin surface available to cover exposed organs after their separation. Shellie Tucker described the past year as a, "roller coaster ride", but said she was relieved now that her daughters are doing so well. "The burden is completely gone, and I am very, very happy," she said. Dr. Holly Hedrick led a team of 40 doctors, nurses and staff during the 7 hour separation surgery. She says seeing one become two was amazing. "It is an overwhelmingly dramatic moment when the tables spread and the babies go their separate ways," said Dr. Hedrick. "From the ultrasound starting off back in November to now, two separate healthy babies, I don't think that I could really ask for much more," said Greg Tucker. The family, including big brother Owen, were hoping to have both twins home for Christmas. "It's still a success," said Shellie. "We kept saying if we weren't going to have them home by Christmas, we wanted to know at least that they are both doing well, and that we will be going home soon. And know that is a miracle." "We totally expect them to have full, independent lives," Dr. Hedrick said. The surgery was the 21st successful separation of conjoined twins performed at the hospital. The first was in 1957. According to statistics provided by the hospital, conjoined twins occur once in every 50,000 to 60,000 births and about 70 percent are female. Online: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: http://www.chop.edu *Original Story* http://www.documentingreality.com/forum/f149/conjoined-twins-separated-philadelphia-115519/" /> *UPDATE* - Photos - Once Conjoined Girls Separated in Philadelphia in November

Menu

*UPDATE* - Photos - Once Conjoined Girls Separated in Philadelphia in November

UPDATE - Photos - Once Conjoined Girls Separated in Philadelphia in November

Current Rating:

Unlimited Views No Ads No Algorithms Lifetime Account

Documenting Reality

Community Forum · Est. 2006

#1

● 12-20-2012, 05:46 PM

DiamondSmiles
Offline:

★The Queen★

Poster Rank:67

Female

Join Date: Jun 2011

Posts: 23,498

Contributions: 120

Mentioned: 95 Post(s)

Quoted: 3083 Post(s)

*UPDATE* - Photos - Once Conjoined Girls Separated in Philadelphia in November

<object id="otvPlayer" width="400" height="268"><param name="movie" value="http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/static/flash/embeddedPlayer/swf/otvEmLoader.swf?version=fw1000&station=wpvi&sectio n=&mediaId=8927030&parentId=8926820&cdnRoot=http://cdn.abclocal.go.com&webRoot=http://abclocal.go.com&configPath=/util/&site=" ></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed id="otvPlayer" width="400" height="268" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all" allowfullscreen="true" src="http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/static/flash/embeddedPlayer/swf/otvEmLoader.swf?version=fw1000&station=wpvi&sectio n=&mediaId=8927030&parentId=8926820&cdnRoot=http://cdn.abclocal.go.com&webRoot=http://abclocal.go.com&configPath=/util/&site="></embed></object>

Slide show of girls here
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/gallery?...=1&pid=8926820

PHILADELPHIA - December 20, 2012 (WPVI) -- More than nine months after they were born joined at the lower chest and abdomen, twin girls made their public debut Thursday at the hospital where they were separated.

Allison June and Amelia Lee Tucker, clad in animal-striped shirts and flowered headbands, were introduced during a news conference at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Allison, described by doctors and her parents as the smaller but feistier twin, was discharged from the hospital Monday.

Her sister Amelia, who's larger and more reserved, needs a little more recovery time and will remain in the hospital into the new year.

"Absolutely relieved," said Shellie Tucker. "It was overwhelming. It was emotional. It was such a relief to have it over with."

The twins shared a chest wall, diaphragm, liver and pericardium, the membrane around the heart.

Shellie Tucker was about 20 weeks into her pregnancy when she learned she was carrying conjoined twins. Prenatal screening tests at Children's Hospital, including ultrasound imaging and MRI, determined that they would be good candidates for separation.

Planning for the separation surgery began months before the twins were delivered by cesarean section on March 1. Shortly after they were born, plastic surgeons inserted expanders under the girls' skin to increase the skin surface available to cover exposed organs after their separation.

Shellie Tucker described the past year as a, "roller coaster ride", but said she was relieved now that her daughters are doing so well.

"The burden is completely gone, and I am very, very happy," she said.

Dr. Holly Hedrick led a team of 40 doctors, nurses and staff during the 7 hour separation surgery. She says seeing one become two was amazing.

"It is an overwhelmingly dramatic moment when the tables spread and the babies go their separate ways," said Dr. Hedrick.

"From the ultrasound starting off back in November to now, two separate healthy babies, I don't think that I could really ask for much more," said Greg Tucker.

The family, including big brother Owen, were hoping to have both twins home for Christmas.

"It's still a success," said Shellie. "We kept saying if we weren't going to have them home by Christmas, we wanted to know at least that they are both doing well, and that we will be going home soon. And know that is a miracle."

"We totally expect them to have full, independent lives," Dr. Hedrick said.

The surgery was the 21st successful separation of conjoined twins performed at the hospital. The first was in 1957.

According to statistics provided by the hospital, conjoined twins occur once in every 50,000 to 60,000 births and about 70 percent are female.

Online:

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: http://www.chop.edu

*Original Story*
http://www.documentingreality.com/fo...elphia-115519/

28.9 KB ·143 views

37.9 KB ·143 views

19.5 KB ·185 views

23.1 KB ·160 views

▲ 5 Users Say Thank You For This Post:

Ashen, DoubleZ1013, lilyv, Lil_Lisa, Sybil

#2

● 12-20-2012, 07:25 PM

LadyCPlum
Offline:

★ Legacy Member ★

Poster Rank:192

All woman

Join Date: Jun 2012

Posts: 7,782

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)

Quoted: 1420 Post(s)

Re: *UPDATE* - Photos - Once Conjoined Girls Separated in Philadelphia in November

Beautiful...I hope they can now live as normal little girls and grow into lovely, normal adults.

▲ 2 Users Say Thank You For This Post:

DiamondSmiles, DoubleZ1013

#3

● 12-20-2012, 08:59 PM

DiamondSmiles
Offline:

★The Queen★

Poster Rank:67

Female

Join Date: Jun 2011

Posts: 23,498

Contributions: 120

Mentioned: 95 Post(s)

Quoted: 3083 Post(s)

Re: *UPDATE* - Photos - Once Conjoined Girls Separated in Philadelphia in November

I've been impatiently waiting to see them!

I can't find the mother's blog on the site they give and hadn't heard anything about them until today!

It seemed so much longer than just over a month ago!

I don't know them, but, I'm so happy for them!

#4

● 12-20-2012, 11:58 PM

Spiffyfable
Offline:

★ PSYCHOPOMP ★

Poster Rank:104

Man

Join Date: Oct 2009

Posts: 15,927

Mentioned: 9 Post(s)

Quoted: 1294 Post(s)

Re: *UPDATE* - Photos - Once Conjoined Girls Separated in Philadelphia in November

Now that there are two.... the parents will have to pay more attention as twins get into all kinds of trouble

▲ This User Says Thank You For This Post:

DiamondSmiles

#5

● 12-21-2012, 03:35 AM

DiamondSmiles
Offline:

★The Queen★

Poster Rank:67

Female

Join Date: Jun 2011

Posts: 23,498

Contributions: 120

Mentioned: 95 Post(s)

Quoted: 3083 Post(s)

Re: *UPDATE* - Photos - Once Conjoined Girls Separated in Philadelphia in November

Originally Posted by Spiffyfable ↗

Now that there are two.... the parents will have to pay more attention as twins get into all kinds of trouble

Do you think so? I babysat twins, (male/female), as a teenager. The worst thing that happened was the girl was brushing my hair and got the brush stuck.

Their mother got it out and I kept my hair.

When they start walking and climbing, I think all babies get into things, especially if there is an older sibling.

Everything is new to them and they have to check everything out.

A neighbor next to my niece has 2 girl/1 boy triplets and they seem very well behaved and friendly.

They would have all followed me to my car and I only see them every now and then. They are so cute!

*UPDATE* - Photos - Once Conjoined Girls Separated in Philadelphia in November

*UPDATE* - Photos - Once Conjoined Girls Separated in Philadelphia in November

« Ouch! | Severe Thermal Burn To The Fingertips »

Powered by vBulletin Copyright 2000-2010 Jelsoft Enterprises Limited.

Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO