MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Conjoined twin sisters from Arizona have already defied expectations by living past their third birthdays. Now their parents are hoping they’ll become one of the first sets of twins sharing a heart to be successfully separated.
Emma and Taylor Bailey live near Queen Creek, southeast of Phoenix. They were born connected at the chest — sharing a liver and heart — and weren’t expected to leave the hospital.
The girls exceeded medical expectations but now have heart failure. And their parents, Mandy and Tor Bailey, know they must be surgically separated to survive in the long term.
The Baileys have been working with a team at Seattle Children’s Hospital for about two years to prepare for separation and heart transplants.
Emma and Taylor have a few preliminary surgeries to go, but the family says they may be ready by the end of this year.
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Information from: East Valley Tribune/Scottsdale Tribune, http://www.eastvalleytribune.com