A Miraculous Journey: 9-Month-Old Twins Joined at the Head Successfully Separated, Defying a Profoundly Rare Anomaly

In a gripping 24-hour operation, 9-month-old twins Abigail and Micaela Bachinskiy, joined at the head, underwent a historic surgery that initially seemed impossible. However, the hand of God was upon these precious girls throughout their awe-inspiring journey.

At 11 weeks into the pregnancy, doctors discovered something truly unique about Liliya Miroshnik’s unborn babies. They were craniopagus twins, meaning their heads were fused together.

“It’s an incredibly rare anomaly,” stated Dr. Michael Edwards, leading pediatric neurosurgeon at UC Davis Children’s Hospital in Sacramento. “There are very few born in a year worldwide who have this anomaly, and of them, only a much smaller subset have fortuitous anatomy that makes separation possible and hopefully leaves you with two healthy babies.”

Initially, the news of having conjoined twins joined at the head overwhelmed Liliya, who already had three children. However, her husband, Anatoliy Bachinskiy, helped ease her worried heart.

“It was tough. I was shocked. I couldn’t process it,” Liliya recalled. “When I got home, my husband and I talked, and I told him that everything would be okay. We will get through this. These are our children. We already love them.”

After the initial shock wore off, the couple prepared as much as they could for their daughters’ rare condition. Yet, in reality, the only option was to trust the Lord to guide them.

A Plan for Head-Conjoined Twins

The doctors at UC Davis Children’s Hospital dedicated extensive time to prepare for the arrival of Abigail and Micaela Bachinskiy. They conducted numerous simulations, trying to anticipate every possible complication that could arise during their birth.

Finally, the day of the battle arrived, and the head-conjoined twins arrived safely and soundly!

The girls spent several weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the hospital before finally returning home. And as they grew, the doctors knew that at some point, they would have to separate their heads.

In the face of beauty

“As they grow, there are more risks of blood vessels and shared organs becoming larger or more intertwined. The upcoming flu, COVID-19, and RSV seasons were also a concern,” explained Dr. Granger Wong, chief plastic surgeon.

At 9 months old, the medical team was ready to operate on the head-conjoined twins. They had spent months utilizing various forms of technology to plan the procedure.

The historic surgery unfolded during the tense 24 hours, involving a team of 30 surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, and other key surgical staff working together seamlessly. And they executed it flawlessly.

“It was like a choreographed dance,” said Dr. Wong, alongside Rajvinder Dhamrait, director of pediatric anesthesiology, adding, “It was flawless, with every contingency covered.”

Miraculous Results

The wait must have been unbearable for parents Liliya Miroshnik and Anatoliy Bachinskiy. But they placed their faith in the Lord.

Finally, they could breathe a sigh of relief. The surgery was complete. The doctors had safely separated the head-conjoined twins!

Of course, carrying out the risky procedure left the medical team marveling at Abigail and Micaela’s outcome.

“This is a historic surgery for us at UC Davis Children’s Hospital,” said Dr. Michael Edwards. It is a moment that none involved in helping these precious girls will ever forget.

“After 10 months of preparation, we witnessed what we had all imagined for the girls and were filled