Amidst the challenges that come with raising a child with medical conditions, parents can still find joy and blessings. However, when it comes to conjoined twins, the challenges could be even more daunting, from financial struggles to the possibility of losing one or both babies during an operation. Nonetheless, the story of AmieLynn Rose Finley and JamieLynn Rae Finley, born as omphalopagus twins in Saginaw, Michigan, demonstrates the triumph of hope and perseverance.
Parents Amanda Arciniega and James Finley discovered that the girls were conjoined at 10 weeks of pregnancy. When they learned that each twin had her own heart and heart sac, which increased their chances of survival, they sought the guidance of professionals and found a sense of hope In October 2022, AmieLynn Rose and JamieLynn Rae were born and they shared a liver.
The infants had an 11-hour separation procedure in January 2023 at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The girls, who had been joined from their breastbone to their belly button, were successfully separated by a team of 25 medical specialists, including six surgeons.
José L. Iglesias, M.D., the primary surgeon, expressed optimism that the twins will grow up “independent” and “feisty,” based on their display of resilience and spirit during the procedure. The parents of the twins were ecstatic to see their girls for the first time laying in separate cribs after the successful surgery.
AmieLynn Rose and JamieLynn Rae’s journey to independence did not end with the separation surgery. The girls underwent additional monitoring and therapy. However, in April 2023, Good Morning America reported that both babies were finally home. Six-month-old AmieLynn was released from Cook Children’s Medical Center about a month after her sister’s release.
The twins’ parents celebrated their daughters’ homecoming by hosting a baby shower. Footage of the event showed the family and friends holding and cradling the twins, including one of the nurses who took care of the babies while they were in the hospital. Although the girls still have a long way to go, their mother expressed joy in having them home with their family.
AmieLynn Rose and JamieLynn Rae’s story is a testament to the power of hope, perseverance, and the dedication of medical professionals. It also highlights the importance of seeking expert advice and support when raising a child with medical conditions.
