Rosie and Ruby Formosa, from Bexleyheath in Kent, were born joined at the abdomen, sharing one bowel. This meant they needed emergency surgery to survive. Separating them seemed an impossible task and their parents were told that the girls’ chances of survival were extremely slim.
The family prayed for a miracle and hoped for the best possible outcome, knowing that the odds were against them. Fortunately, the sisters were successfully separated after an extremely complex operation at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
Speaking of how she found out the babies she was carrying were conjoined, the girls’ mother, Angela, said: “At 16 weeks they sent me to King’s College Hospital and that is where they discovered the connection between the girls.
“It was really heartbreaking – I was already worried that they were monoamniotic (where twins share one amniotic sac) and conjoined was the worst case scenario.
“I was very, very, very scared and very upset because at that point I was told that there was a high possibility that the girls wouldn’t survive the pregnancy.”
“And if they survived the pregnancy, they might not survive the birth, then they might not survive the operation. They couldn’t tell what was connecting them.
“I hadn’t prepared to bring them home. It wasn’t until they were in the hospital and had their operation that my husband started painting the bedroom and getting everything ready for them.
Four years after their successful surgery, Rosie and Ruby started school. The proud mum said the girls had now met their teacher and were “very excited” to be attending school like their older sister Lilly.
Although the parents are overjoyed that their girls have started school, they admit that the house would be empty without them while they are away.
We are so happy that things have turned out for the best for these beautiful girls. We wish them all the best that life has to offer.
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