The parents of previously conjoined twins had an extra special reason to celebrate International Women's Day yesterday as their baby girls reached their first birthday. Babies Annabelle and Isabelle Bateson, who are just one in 2.5 million, were born attached to one another on March 8 last year and were separated in September.
The twins from Northern Ireland were joined from the chest to the pelvis and shared a bladder, bowel and a fused leg but had separate hearts. Parents Hannah and Dan Bateson, from Toomebridge first discovered their daughters were conjoined twins in a 12-week scan last year, Wales Online reports.
The couple confirmed in mid-September last year their girls had been safely separated. The surgery had originally been planned for the end of the May but was put back due to illness and was further delayed because of staff shortages over the summer months.
Hannah and Dan, who have been together for 15 years and married for seven, have endured a tough journey before they finally became parents. The couple said they previously struggled to conceive and were shocked when they first found out they were pregnant.
Hannah was referred to London's University College Hospital where the babies were delivered by a specialist team. From there, they were transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital, the leading specialist hospital in Europe for separating conjoined twins where the operation took place.
The separation surgery which was performed by Consultant Paediatric Surgeon Professor Paolo De Coppi from Great Ormond Street took 18 hours and involved 30 people. The little girls were able to return home from hospital in time for Christmas.
Posting on social media on Wednesday, proud mum Hannah said: "Happy 1st Birthday to our very special wee ladies. A whole year of Annie and Issie. I can’t believe you’re 1!
"You have been through so much in this past year but your determination and strength has been an inspiration to everyone that has the joy of knowing you.
"How very appropriate that you were born on International Women’s Day. Celebrating with chocolate pancakes for breakfast!
"Life lesson… both girls currently ignoring their new toys and playing with an old saucepan and wooden spoon."
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