Ethiopian Twins Successfully Separated After 25-Hour Surgery

Hiyab and Wuhbto, two-year-old conjoined twins from Ethiopia, were successfully separated after a complex 25-hour surgery at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. The twins were born with craniopagus, a rare condition where twins are joined at the head, facing opposite directions.

Their separation was announced several months after the high-risk operation conducted in February. The surgical team, led by Dr. Joanna Kemp, prepared for nearly a year, involving almost 30 medical specialists to ensure the preservation of the twins' brain function while addressing shared blood vessels and fused brain areas.

Their parents remained in Ethiopia due to visa issues, while the girls traveled with a guardian. Following the surgery, Hiyab and Wuhbto continued their recovery at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital in Maryland Heights, Missouri, where they still require additional medical procedures.