Home for the Holidays: Formerly Conjoined Twins, Erin and Abby Delaney, Depart Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

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Twins, their parents, and the team at CHOP Erin and Abby pictured with their parents and huge care team, including doctors, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, social workers, child life specialists, and many others who cared for them during their 485 days at CHOP. After 485 days at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), formerly conjoined twins, Erin and Abby Delaney, were discharged to return home to North Carolina, just in time for Thanksgiving.

Abby and Erin were born in CHOP’s Garbose Family Special Delivery Unit on July 24, 2016, 10 weeks premature and joined at the top of their heads. On Tuesday, June 6, a multidisciplinary team of approximately 30 members successfully completed the separation of the then 10-month-old twins. The surgery, co-led by neurosurgeon Gregory Heuer, MD, PhD, and plastic surgeon Jesse Taylor, MD, lasted about 11 hours. It was the 24th time that surgeons at CHOP have separated a pair of conjoined twins, but the first craniopagus (joined at the head and the least common) pair.

Erin and Abby will require additional surgeries as they mature. Their CHOP team, who has been caring for them since birth, will continue to monitor them as they grow up. The team is optimistic about their progress so far and about their long-term potential. Read more in this update from Oct. 22.

Twins and their parents “The girls are inspiring,” said Heather Delaney, mother to Erin and Abby. “As their parents, it is very neat for Riley and me to have a front-row seat to this and watch them overcome these incredible obstacles. We cannot wait to see what their future holds!”

“The team at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has become like family,” added Heather. “Riley and I are so grateful for the care our girls have received here and so excited to take them home — just in time for the holidays.”

Watch Erin and Abby’s story here:

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