The Bateson family from Northern Ireland finally welcomed twin daughters after years of infertility, only to learn they were conjoined “from the chest to the pelvis.” Scans showed that Annabelle and Isabelle had “two hearts within one shared body,” sharing organs such as the liver, intestines, bladder, and one leg.

Born in March 2022 at University College Hospital in London, the twins were transferred to a top children’s hospital where experts from many fields analyzed their complex anatomy. For months, doctors used “advanced imaging, 3D modeling, and virtual simulations” to prepare for a risky surgery.

In September 2022, more than thirty specialists performed an “eighteen-hour procedure” to separate the girls. For the first time, “Annabelle and Isabelle were placed on separate operating tables — and both survived.”

After surgery, each girl kept one leg and began a long recovery that included intensive care, follow-up surgeries, and daily wound treatments.

Now, after about twenty procedures, Annabelle is “outgoing and talkative,” while Isabelle is “quieter but equally spirited.” Both use mobility aids and continue therapy. For their parents, every milestone proves that “miracles can indeed happen.”