Conjoined Twins Leave Hospital Separately for First Time

Two adorable conjoined twin girls no longer have to share the same diaper. Ballenie and Bellanie Camacho, identical twins from the Dominican Republic, were born fused at the lower back. They were successfully separated  in a 21-hour operation performed by more than 50 medical professionals at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, New York back in January.

The now 13-month-old twins left the hospital with their parents, Laurilin Celadilla Marte and Marino Abel Camacho, on Friday, March 24 — 10 weeks after they were separated.

Ballenie and Bellanie were connected at the tailbone at the base of the spines. They shared gastrointestinal tracts and a major artery, which supplied blood to their pelvic regions, hips, thighs and reproductive organs.

“Their attachment presented us with many challenges but after a successful separation, Ballenie and Bellanie now have chances for better lives,” said Dr. Samir Pandya, who along with Dr. Whitney McBride served as the lead surgeons on the two surgical teams that separated the girls.

Once the girls were separated, the two 25-member surgical teams took over the delicate surgery for each girl.

“We are thrilled to provide them with this life-altering opportunity. Conjoined twins are rare – about one set in every 200,000 births – and every case has unique features due to the varied physical make-up of each patient,” said Dr. McBride.

Conjoined twins are developed from the same egg which doesn’t split completely. The twins are genetically identical, meaning they are always the same sex.

Marte and Camacho traveled from their home in Moca in the Dominican Republic to seek the best care for their daughters in the US.

Photos by Maria Fareri/Splash News