Faith and Hope Williams

Twins' Names:

Faith and Hope Williams

Birthdate:

October 26, 2008

Hometown:

Shrewsbury in Shropshire, England. The girls were born at University College Hospital in London.

Type of Conjoined Twins:

Omphalopagus. They were joined from breastbone to navel. They shared a liver but had separate hearts.

Surgical Separation:

A blockage in their joined intestine which could only be resolved through separation prompted emergency surgery on Tuesday, December 2, 2008. Unfortunately, Hope died during the surgery due to lung failure, her lungs being too small to support her breathing and circulation after being separated from her sister. It was thought that Faith's lungs had been supporting Hope's.

Surgical Separation Location:

Great Ormond Street Hospital, London

Surgical Team:

Professor Agostino Pierro headed a staff of more than twenty medical professionals.

Status:

The surviving twin, Faith, was in stable condition after surgery and gradually improved. She still required support for breathing and was thought to have a 50/50 chance of survival. Despite two additional operations to help improve her circulation, she passed away on Christmas Day.

Other Information:

Mother Laura Williams became the youngest mother of conjoined twins when she gave birth to the girls at eighteen years of age. The parents had been advised that the babies were not likely to survive but decided against terminating the pregnancy. The Williams family also have another daughter who was 18 months old when the twins were born.