Chelsea and Nick Torres learned their twin daughters would be born conjoined. Doctors broke the devastating news that Callie and Carter had a slim chance of surviving more than 24 hours.
Callie and Carter were diagnosed with omphalo-ischiopagus, a rare condition that affects fewer than 5% of conjoined twins throughout the world. While just 40% to 60% of all conjoined twins survive past birth, omphalo-ischiopagus is considered so dangerous that doctors expected the babies to die within 24 hours of being born.
Despite these gut-wrenching statistics, the Idaho parents refused to terminate the pregnancy. Instead, they moved to Texas so Callie and Carter could receive specialized care at Texas Children’s Hospital where the girls were born safely.
The twins have two separate hearts and two separate stomachs, but they are connected at the liver and share an intestinal track and bladder. They each have control of one arm and one leg.
Then came the issue of separation surgery, which would have provided Callie and Carter a life of independence.
However, their pediatrician warned Chelsea and Nick that the procedure could potentially be fatal.
It’s been three years since the birth of Callie and Carter, and their parents have since made a controversial decision about their fate.
Source : https://www.littlethings.com/idaho-conjoined-twin-sisters/