Conjoined Twin Sisters Successfully Separated After Complex Surgery

A remarkable medical procedure has recently taken place in St. Louis, where two-year-old conjoined twins from Ethiopia, named Hiyab and Wuhbto, have been successfully separated. Born with a rare condition known as craniopagus, they were joined at the head facing opposite directions. This condition is extremely unusual, occurring in less than 6% of conjoined twin cases according to the National Library of Medicine, and affects approximately one in every 2.5 million live births.

For the first two years of their lives, Hiyab and Wuhbto could hear each other’s voices but were unable to see each other’s faces. Continued conjoinment posed significant health risks, prompting urgent medical intervention. They were brought from Ethiopia to Missouri in 2025 for treatment at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.

The separation surgery was the result of nearly a year’s preparation involving a team of around 30 medical specialists. The surgery, which took place in February, lasted 25 hours. It required the careful separation of shared blood vessels between the twins. Dr. Joanna Kemp, the head of the surgical team and the first female neurosurgeon in the U.S. to perform this surgery, explained that while the twins’ brains were largely separate, there were a few small fused areas that required meticulous planning.

Reflecting on the procedure, Kemp described a powerful moment during the surgery when the girls were seen separated for the first time, even if just a few feet apart on the operating table. The groundbreaking operation marked a major milestone for the twins.

The hospital announced that Wuhbto has recently undergone successful cranioplasty for her skull repair, with Hiyab scheduled to have a similar procedure later in the fall. The twins are currently receiving care and rehabilitation at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital in Maryland Heights, Missouri. The healthcare team at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital aims to reunite the girls with their family in Ethiopia soon.

The efforts were supported by a global network of pediatric providers and charitable organizations, demonstrating widespread commitment to their successful recovery.