Twin Sisters Successfully Separated After One Of America’s Most Complex Pediatric Surgeries

Sep 25, 2026 by apost team

For most siblings, learning to walk, play and explore the world together comes naturally. For twin sisters Hiyab and Wuhbto, those milestones first depended on a medical procedure few hospitals can perform.

Born in Ethiopia joined at the head, the girls were diagnosed as craniopagus twins — a condition so rare it occurs in only about one in 2.5 million live births and accounts for less than 6% of all conjoined twins, according to the National Library of Medicine. Worldwide, only a handful of separation attempts have ever been performed.

Their journey brought them thousands of miles from home to St. Louis, Missouri, where specialists at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital began preparing for what would become one of the most complex pediatric surgeries in the United States.

The twins arrived in Missouri in March 2025, just months after celebrating their first birthday. What followed wasn’t an immediate operation but months of careful planning involving surgeons, specialists and partner organizations working together to give the sisters their best chance at independent lives.

According to the hospital, more than 300 hours went into planning meetings before a single incision was made. On the day of surgery alone, over 30 medical professionals participated in the operation, while more than 100 caregivers have since been involved in the twins’ ongoing recovery.

Every step was designed to prepare for a procedure that would ultimately change the course of both girls’ lives.

On Feb. 24, 2026, that preparation culminated in a marathon operation lasting more than 24 hours.

The surgery successfully separated Hiyab and Wuhbto, marking a major milestone in a journey that has required extraordinary collaboration between hospitals, nonprofit organizations and international partners.

In a statement, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital President Dr. Hossain Marandi described the achievement as a reflection of what can happen when people unite around a shared purpose.

“This story reflects the very best of who we are, bringing hope, healing, and opportunities once thought impossible to children and families when they need it most,” he said.

Today, both girls remain in recovery and continue receiving intensive rehabilitation. Wuhbto has already undergone a cranioplasty to complete the repair of her skull, while Hiyab is expected to undergo the same procedure later this year.

According to Dr. Nick Holekamp of Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital, the twins are already reaching milestones that simply weren’t possible before the separation.

“They are now able to participate in individually focused therapies to do the activities of daily living that they could not do while conjoined,” he explained, including learning to sit independently, eventually stand and walk, eat, speak, socialize and even play with each other.

“Although they are still in the middle of an extensive medical journey, they are making progress toward one day pursuing independent lives.”

“From our caregivers and clinical teams to our community and global partners, countless individuals united around a shared mission to create new possibilities for these two young girls and their future.”

For Hiyab and Wuhbto, the surgery wasn’t the end of their story. It was the beginning of two separate lives that, for the first time, they can live side by side rather than as one.

apost.com

What are your thoughts on this remarkable medical milestone? Share your well wishes for Hiyab and Wuhbto in the comments, and join us in celebrating the team that helped make their new beginning possible!