God is so good to us and he loves to bless us! Babies are just one of the many ways we are blessed by God, and he teaches parents so much about his character through our little ones. However, not all parents are lucky enough to give birth to or raise children who are healthy. Many parents have had to to go through agonizing experiences with their children that test their faith and patience. Luckily, though, our God is looking out for us and promises us in Romans 8:28 that he will work all things out for the good of those who love him and who have been called according to his purpose.
Anna and Hope Richards are two sweet little girls that were born conjoined at the torso. The twins share a chest wall, a diaphragm, a liver, and heart lining. Doctors told their parents, Jill and Michael Richards, that separating their two daughters would be a risky operation. But, the decision to separate them was made and after 13 months of being conjoined, a team of 75 specialists spent seven hours performing this complex surgery that would turn them into singletons. “We’ve thought about and prayed for this day for almost two years,” Jill Richards said. “It’s an indescribable feeling to look at our girls in two separate beds.”
The girls are being cared for at the Texas Children’s Hospital. Specialists at the hospital have spent months planning this surgery. The girls required tissue expanders to be implanted so that they could grow and stretch their skin. This had to be done so that the area would be large enough to make the long incision that was needed to separate their bodies. Jill and Michael found out that she was carrying conjoined twins during an ultrasound. Anna and Hope were born via C-section on December 29, 2016, after multiple tests and consultations were done in order to prepare for the safest birth possible.
“Through simulations and countless planning meetings, we were able to prepare for situations that could arise during the separation,” chief surgeon Dr. Larry Hollier said. “We are thrilled with the outcome and look forward to continuing to care for Anna and Hope as they recover.” Now, the parents are focused on caring for their babies, who seem to have a bright future ahead of them. “The success of this incredibly complex surgery was the result of our dedicated team members’ hard work throughout the last year,” Dr. Hollier said. Learn more about Anna and Hope in the video below:
[Source/Little Things]
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