Conjoined twins, sharing a heart and a liver were born in Augusta, Georgia, and are now in critical condition at the Children's Hospital of Georgia under the care of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
The mom of the twins Brittany Crafton is in a good condition according to reports. Crafton's mother said, "She's spending a lot of time with her babies and really enjoying that process of motherhood. Being able to hold them, and kiss them, and pray for them has been great. She's been amazing."
The University of Maryland Medical Center said that one in every 200,000 births result in conjoined twins. And when this happens, the results are usually not favorable.
The UMMC study also suggests that 40-60 percent of conjoined twins usually die at birth. The 35 percent sharing internal organs may live for a day or two. With survival rate of 5-25 percent, the Crafton twins had already surpassed the ideal life span for their case.
The Canada Journal said that this unusual strength showcased by the twins might come from their shared heart. Dr. Paul Browne of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Georgia Regents said, "What makes this case special is that the heart the twins share is quite normal and has been functioning very well for them. We believe it will continue to function well after the delivery."
The doctor also added that the survival of the twins, Chance and Chandler, will depend on how well their heart continues to beat and function. The twins are the first conjoined twins to be delivered at Georgia Regents center in Augusta.
Brittany said that the experience strengthen her faith and opened her eyes to other mothers who also went through the same struggles as she did.
"I know God's got me, and He'll continue to be with me even after the twins are born. This experience has helped me to look at 'different' people differently, and I have gained a real compassion for what they go through."
The Crafton family launched a campaign called "2 Smiles 1 Heart" which aims to aid the financial needs of the conjoined twins.
