Twins update: Formerly conjoined twins strong and healthy

Watching Angelina and Angelica Sabuco run, play and chase each other like any other pair of two-year-olds, it’s hard to believe the twin sisters were born conjoined at the chest and abdomen.

The girls, who were separated in a 10-hour surgery Nov. 1 at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, have bounced back quickly from the surgery that required cutting apart their livers and completely reconstructing their chest walls. They returned to the hospital today to meet the local media for an update on their progress.

From a Packard Children’s press release about the girls’ continued recovery:

“They have really bounced back,” said lead surgeon Gary Hartman, MD, of his sixth conjoined twins surgery. “Each time I see them in the clinic, they are more mobile and better adjusted. It’s been a very smooth recovery.”

“They love to run around, go out, and play with other children now,” said mother Ginady Sabuco. “We are so grateful to Packard Children’s.” …

As part of their recovery, the girls had physical and occupational therapy to build their strength, endurance, gross- and fine-motor skills. They also continue to see Hartman and plastic surgeon Peter Lorenz, MD, to monitor the healing of their abdomens and chests.

“They are healing right on track,” said Lorenz, who implanted a custom-made resorbable plate in each girl’s chest where the sternum should be. The plates are expected to dissolve later this year as the grafted bones fuse. “We expect their chests to become more normally shaped as they grow, and have already seen a good improvement,” added Lorenz.

Previously: Formerly conjoined twins get ready to head home