Meet Erin and Abby Delaney, two incredible toddlers who have defied the odds and are now thriving as siblings. Their remarkable journey began on July 24, 2016, when they were born, each weighing just 2 pounds and 1 ounce. However, their birth was far from ordinary as the twins were conjoined at the head, a condition so rare that it occurs approximately six times every 10 million births, according to experts at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
Heather and Riley Delaney, the twins’ parents, received the news about the rare conjoining during Heather’s 11th week of pregnancy. The twins’ condition was particularly complex because their heads were fused deep into their brain tissue, and they shared a superior sagittal sinus, a major conduit that delivers blood from the brain to the heart, causing great concern among doctors.
Erin and Abby embarked on a challenging journey that involved physical, occupational, and speech therapy at the hospital over several months. Erin, the first to be released, spent 435 days receiving treatment at CHOP. During this time, the Delaney family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia to be close to their daughters. They finally returned to North Carolina, just before the Thanksgiving holiday in 2017.
The Delaney family is overjoyed by the progress Erin and Abby have made. Riley Delaney shared, “They’re both quite happy little girls. It amazes us that they are doing as well as they are.”
Dr. Gregory Heuer and Dr. Jesse Taylor, who is currently the chairman of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at CHOP, co-led the separation procedures for Erin and Abby. Taylor mentioned that this was his first craniopagus twin operation and described it as innovative and groundbreaking.
The twins are exceeding expectations and progressing remarkably well. While they are technically about six months behind schedule, their overall development is impressive. Erin has started crawling, while Abby is mastering rolling and sitting up. Like typical toddlers, they are displaying spirited personalities and exploring their surroundings.
Riley Delaney proudly shared, “Erin likes to take remote controls off the coffee table. They are just beginning to interact, so it’s amusing to see Abby make this expression [to Erin], ‘Don’t take my toy.’ She is a spunky young lady, Abby.”
