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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Conjoined twins being separated | Conjoined twins being separated |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| An operation to separate conjoined twin girls is being carried out at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. | An operation to separate conjoined twin girls is being carried out at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. |
| Laura Williams, 18, from Shrewsbury, gave birth to the girls, Faith and Hope, last Wednesday. | Laura Williams, 18, from Shrewsbury, gave birth to the girls, Faith and Hope, last Wednesday. |
| The girls are joined from their breastbone to their navel, sharing a liver but having separate hearts. | The girls are joined from their breastbone to their navel, sharing a liver but having separate hearts. |
| The operation was due to take place later in the week but was brought forward after concerns developed on Monday night, the hospital said. | The operation was due to take place later in the week but was brought forward after concerns developed on Monday night, the hospital said. |
| Family's decision | Family's decision |
| A Great Ormond Street Hospital spokeswoman said: "The separation of conjoined twins Faith and Hope Williams has been brought forward and is currently taking place, after some concerns developed last night. | A Great Ormond Street Hospital spokeswoman said: "The separation of conjoined twins Faith and Hope Williams has been brought forward and is currently taking place, after some concerns developed last night. |
| "Obviously, the final decision about separation surgery was made by the family." | "Obviously, the final decision about separation surgery was made by the family." |
| The spokeswoman added that Laura and her husband Aled, from Anglesey, Wales, wanted to thank all the hospitals involved in their care. | The spokeswoman added that Laura and her husband Aled, from Anglesey, Wales, wanted to thank all the hospitals involved in their care. |
| "In particular, the surgeons and other staff who are currently in surgery conducting the separation," she added. | "In particular, the surgeons and other staff who are currently in surgery conducting the separation," she added. |
| Mrs Williams made medical history by becoming the world's youngest mother of conjoined twins. | Mrs Williams made medical history by becoming the world's youngest mother of conjoined twins. |
| She gave birth to her daughters at University College Hospital in London and said afterwards that seeing her babies for the first time had been beautiful. | She gave birth to her daughters at University College Hospital in London and said afterwards that seeing her babies for the first time had been beautiful. |
| Mrs Williams and her husband Aled, 28, found out about their children's condition at a routine 12-week scan. | |
| They were advised by doctors to have their daughters aborted but they refused to have a termination. | |
| The couple have another daughter, 18-month-old Carly. |