Ten months ago, when conjoined twins Erika and Eva Sandoval were separated at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, their doctors and family were facing a lot of uncertainty about their recovery. The girls had been through a 17-hour surgery that left each of them with one leg, and their large separation sites needed to heal. Fortunately, the sisters, who turned 3 in August, are now doing very well, as a new story that aired recently on ABC Nightline reports.
I've been writing about the girls since before their separation, and I really enjoyed talking with their mom, Aida Sandoval, for an update story on the hospital's blog. Erika and Eva have been home with their family in Antelope, California since April and are continuing develop all sorts of new skills:
On a recent weekend trip with their parents, the girls reached their latest big milestone: Using her arms on a low table for extra support, each twin can balance on her leg and hop sideways for one or two hops.
'They took two steps and were tired, but those are two steps that meant everything because they’re on the right path,' Aida Sandoval said. 'They’re just thriving and amazing me every day.'
The girls' parents and medical team report that they are talkative, happy little individuals who have learned to use customized wheelchairs and are doing well in preschool. Gary Hartman, MD, the pediatric surgeon who led their separation team, said they have a lot to look forward to:
I see a bright future for them. They’ve healed both physically and psychologically, and they’re focused on being kids.
Previously: Formerly conjoined twins Eva and Erika Sandoval doing well at home, Formerly conjoined twins one step closer to home and Conjoined twins successfully separated at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford
Photo courtesy of the Sandoval family
