A pair of conjoined twins who defied medical expectations by surviving after being separated in 1955, have revealed how they are happy and healthy almost 70 years on.
Lillian and Linda Matthews, 68, from Indianola, Mississippi, were connected from the sternum to the naval when they were born and they also shared a liver.
In a bid to allow them to live independent lives, a surgeon called Dr. Harwell Wilson performed a pioneering separation surgery when they were five-and-a-half weeks old and another successful surgery was performed a year later.
According to a paper in the Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports, the Matthews’ conjoined twins were the first in history to be separated and both survive.
Conjoined twins Lillian and Linda Matthews, who defied medical expectations by surviving after being separated in 1955, have revealed how they are happy and healthy almost 70 years on
The Matthews from Indianola, Mississippi, were connected from the sternum to the naval when they were born and they also shared a liver
In a bid to allow them to live independent lives, a surgeon called Dr. Harwell Wilson performed a pioneering separation surgery when they were five-and-a-half weeks old
According to a paper in the Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports, the Matthews’ conjoined twins were the first in history to be separated and both survive
Photos shared with NBC show how the twins steadily grew and hit various goals, from graduating college to having children of their own
Telling their story on the Today show, the Matthews twins said most people thought they had ‘zero’ chance of surviving long-term when they were born.
They said their birth proved traumatic for their mother – who had had six children previously – and when she was in labor medics ‘couldn’t figure out what was going on.’
A medical case report explains that Dr. Clinton Battle realized that there was a ‘dire problem’ and the delivery was not a single birth, but one of conjoined twins.
The review continues: ‘Unassisted and without the use of anesthesia, Dr. Battle successfully delivered the conjoined twins vaginally at their home. However, the delivery was not without complications.
‘One of the twins was unconscious and not breathing.
‘Detecting a heartbeat, Dr. Battle’s prompt response would result in a medical miracle.’
The babies – collectively weighing 11 pounds and six-and-a-half ounces – were rushed to Indianola’s South Sunflower County Hospital, where doctors gave the unconscious twin oxygen.
Three days later, they were transported to to John Gaston Hospital in Memphis, where they were assessed for a possible surgical separation.
While they were separated surgically, the Matthews’ went on to be inseparable
A medical case report explains that Dr. Clinton Battle realized that there was a ‘dire problem’ and the delivery was not a single birth, but one of conjoined twins
The babies collectively weighed 11 pounds and six-and-a-half ounces when they were born
Conjoined twins occur when siblings have their skin or internal organs fused together. It affects around one in 200,000 live births
Between them the women – who both went into the teaching profession – have seven children and 16 grandchildren
No abnormalities were found during physical examinations and Dr. Wilson went ahead with the separation surgery.
Following their second surgery when they were aged one, the case report states that Lillian and Linda were ‘entirely normal in every way.’
Photos shared with NBC show how the twins steadily grew and hit various goals, from graduating college to having children of their own, despite being told they would never be able to conceive.
Between them the women – who both went into the teaching profession – have seven children and 16 grandchildren.
While they were separated surgically, the Matthews went on to be inseparable.
They say being hand in hand is ‘just natural’ and they ‘we can be going through something and sometimes we just laughin’ and talkin’.’
Linda also revealed that their connection is more than skin deep.
Recalling one of the toughest things they have gone through together, she said: ‘[Lillian] was pregnant and I just remember I felt really in pain and I started feeling just weird, just strange.
‘I told my husband, I said [Lillian’s] having a miscarriage and within 10 minutes her husband called [and said] she just had a miscarriage and that was probably one of the toughest times I think… to feel her pain.’
Asked what their story symbolizes, the duo replied: ‘Hope.’
Conjoined twins occur when siblings have their skin or internal organs fused together.
It affects around one in 200,000 live births and it is caused when a fertilized egg doesn’t successfully split into two embryos after conception.
The most common type are twins joined at the chest or abdomen and separation surgery success depends on where the join occurs.
Doctors can only tell which organs the siblings share after birth, so the type of surgery cannot be planned beforehand.
Omphalopagus twins, like the Matthews, are joined near the belly button and often share a liver but generally do not share a heart.
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