Twins Names:
Mateo and McHale Shaw. (Parents Ryan Shaw and Angie Benzschawel say they chose the names because they both mean "gift of God.")Birthdate:
May 10, 2006Hometown:
The twins were born at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. Their parents are from Wisconsin.Type of Conjoined Twins:
The boys are pyopagus conjoined twins, joined at the lower back and buttocks and sharing a spine. They have separate hearts and livers.Separation Date:
Wednesday, September 6, 2006Separation Location:
Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.Separation Team:
Surgical Team: Robert Keating, John Myseros, Philip Guzzetta, David Powell, Michael J. Boyajian, Ananth Murthy, Laurel Blakemore, Lane Wimberly, Renee Roberts, Karen Thomson, Hans Pohl
Medical Team: Dorothy Bulas, Naomi Luban, Kurt Newman, Billie Short
Assisted by a support team of medical professionals.
Separation Location:
Children's NationalStatus:
After surgery, the boys were in critical but stable condition. Due to the way they were joined, they have spinabifida and as a result, hydrocephelas (water on the brain, which is drained with a shunt). However, they currently do not have any brain damage.Other Information:
Born at 32 weeks' gestation. The operation to deliver them took 90 minutes, with another post-delivery procedure taking 2 hours. Visit the boys' site at CaringBridge.org by going to http://www.caringbridge.org, clicking on "Visit Site" and entering "MateoandMcHale."
