Erin and Abby Delaney were born in July 2016 in Philadelphia. The girls were born as extremely rare Siamese twins – craniopagus – meaning their heads were joined.

Their skulls and parts of their brain membranes were fused, and doctors knew from the start that without highly complex surgery, they would not survive long.

When the girls were just one year old, doctors made the crucial decision to separate them. The parents were immediately told the truth: likely, one of the daughters would not survive.

Separating the skull bones was possible, but separating the brains was a task on the level of space technology. The neurosurgeons knew that even a one-millimeter error could cost a life or cause severe disability.

The operation lasted more than ten hours. It was delicate work by an entire team of surgeons and specialists. But the incredible happened – the surgery was successful, and both girls survived.

After that began a long rehabilitation journey. Erin and Abby had to quickly learn what their peers already knew: holding their heads, sitting, moving.

The separated brain had to be “trained” to function according to new principles. It was not easy, but doctors, parents, and loving people were always by their side.

The greatest miracle was that the sisters can now hug each other. Their mother admits: the girls often fall asleep in each other’s arms, and for her, that is the most precious sight in the world.

Today, years later, Erin and Abby continue to grow and bring joy to their family. They are now 9 years old. Of course, their development is slightly different from their peers: the girls have to spend more time with doctors and attend rehabilitation courses.

Yet they learn, laugh, play, and lead completely normal childhood lives.