For all parents, having a child is a blessing, and having twins just makes everything much more wonderful. But for brothers Anias and Jadon McDonald, there was a problem.
It only happens in 1 out of 2.5 million births
Anias and Jadon are conjoined twins, connected at the head. They're craniopagus twins, which is a rare occurrence that only happens in 1 out of 2.5 million births. Both of them shared 1.6 cm of brain tissue, which made separating them very difficult.
Back in the day, separating conjoined twins was an extremely difficult process; the common practice back then was to sacrifice one twin so that the other one could live. Nowadays, it's still a difficult and risky operation, but the goal in mind is to always ensure that both of the twins survive the operation.
The boys were only 13 months old, and they had to undergo the risky operation. Doctor James Goodrich, the leading expert when it comes to craniopagus surgery, spearheaded the surgery, lasting over 16 hours which don't yet include the extensive reconstruction surgery to rebuild the twins' skulls.
They almost stopped the surgery
The surgery was so risky that Dr. Goodrich at one point almost thought about stopping the procedure. The twins' mother Nicole Mcdonald shares, "There was a point where Dr (James) Goodrich debated stopping the whole procedure because it was just too risky but an opening presented itself and they went for it and it ended up being the right call."
Nicole shared in a Facebook post, "I didn't cry until the surgeon's left the room, I was barely able to even utter the words 'thank you' because of the pit that still sits heavy in my stomach. We are standing on the brink of a vast unknown."
While the twins are both safe and out of surgery, there's still the matter of their recovery. The next few months will be critical, but the twins' parents are hopeful that both of them will be okay.
Helping your kids recover after a surgery
Recovering after a surgery can be difficult for adults, moreso for children. Here are some things to keep in mind to help your child recover better after a surgery:
- Make sure to consult your child's doctor on what activities they can do after the surgery, since in some cases, they shouldn't do any strenuous activity for a few days while they heal.
- Make sure that they eat properly and that they also drink a lot of liquids to help with their recovery.
- Ask your child's doctor on what type of pain medication they need so that you can give it to your child should the need arise.
- If your child gets a fever, make sure to give your child plenty of fluids as well as medicine. If you feel that the fever might be too sever, or if it doesn't go away in a day or two, it's best to consult your doctor about it.
- Help them keep positive about recovery. Make sure that they rest well and stay positive throughout the entire process, it will help them heal faster.
READ: Genetic condition required toddler to receive 8 organs in a transplant surgery
Sources: edition.cnn.com, wlox.com
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