Separated at Last: Ethiopian Twins See Each Other Face-to-Face for the First Time After Historic Surgery

For nearly two years, twin sisters Hiyab and Wuhbto shared everything—giggles, gentle touches, and the mischievous habit of pulling each other’s hair. Yet, they had never once looked into each other’s eyes.

Born in war-scarred Aksum, Ethiopia, the toddlers were craniopagus conjoined twins, an extraordinarily rare condition in which they were fused at the tops of their heads. Positioned permanently facing away from one another, each girl knew the sound of her sister’s laugh and the touch of her hands, but the face behind the voice remained a mystery.

That changed following a grueling 24-hour marathon surgery at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Today, Hiyab and Wuhbto are thriving in rehabilitation, discovering what it means to lead independent lives—from sitting upright in separate chairs to sharing smiles eye-to-eye.

A Rare Medical Triumph

Craniopagus conjoined twins account for just 6% of all conjoined births, occurring roughly once in every 2.5 million live births. Globally, only 62 separation attempts have ever been recorded. The historic operation in St. Louis was only the second of its kind ever performed in the city, with the previous attempt dating back to the 1980s.

“The successful separation of Hiyab and Wuhbto represents far more than an extraordinary medical achievement,” said Dr. Hossain Marandi, president of Cardinal Glennon. “It is a powerful testament to what is possible when world-class pediatric expertise, compassion, innovation, and purpose come together in service of children.”

The Journey to St. Louis

Born in March 2024, the twins were initially cared for at the Lola Children’s Home in Ethiopia. While the facility provided vital support, the specialized surgical intervention required to separate them was unavailable locally.

Hope emerged when Dr. Andrew White, chief medical officer at Cardinal Glennon, learned about the girls through a colleague. Determined to help, Cardinal Glennon coordinated with specialists, even consulting the medical team from the 1980s St. Louis case.

With funding provided by charitable donations, healthcare partners, and World Pediatrics—which facilitated the twins’ transatlantic travel—Hiyab and Wuhbto arrived in the U.S. in early 2025. Though their parents were unable to secure visas and remained in Ethiopia, the twins were warmly received at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital for their inpatient care.

“The most advanced medical care cannot change a child’s life if that child cannot reach it,” noted Linda Norman, chair of World Pediatrics.

Meticulous Planning and Surgical Precision

Separating the sisters was a delicate, high-stakes endeavor. While diagnostic scans confirmed their brains were structurally distinct, they shared a fused skull and a complex network of interconnected blood vessels. A sudden, single-stage operation risked fatal hemorrhaging or stroke.

To navigate these dangers safely, lead surgeon Dr. Joanna Kemp and her 60-person multidisciplinary team executed a staged plan:

• Vein Untangling: Over 12 months, surgeons performed six preliminary procedures to gradually separate and reassign shared blood vessels to each girl.

• Tissue Expansion: Plastic surgeons placed balloon expanders beneath their scalps to gently stretch the skin, ensuring enough tissue was available to close the cranial wounds.

• Virtual Rehearsals: The team spent over 300 hours preparing, using 3D-printed physical anatomical models and virtual reality systems to simulate every cut and movement.

A New Reality Begins

On February 24, the milestone operation commenced. The sisters lay together on a single operating table as surgeons worked under microscopes for 24 continuous hours.

Once the physical separation was complete, the surgical teams rotated two separate operating beds 180 degrees apart, continuing individualized reconstructive work on each child.

When the twins finally awoke from sedation in the recovery unit, caregivers had arranged their beds so they were facing one another. For the very first time in their lives, Hiyab and Wuhbto opened their eyes and looked directly into each other’s faces.

Bright Futures Ahead

Now recovering, the girls’ distinct personalities are coming to light:

• Hiyab is an outgoing social butterfly who loves welcoming visitors with a warm smile.

• Wuhbto is an energetic explorer, eager to play and always quick to point out her favorite toys.

As they continue physical therapy, both sisters are undergoing final skull reconstruction procedures. Though they still reach out to touch each other’s faces and playfully tug at hair, they now do so while locking eyes in shared laughter.

“Our goal was never simply to achieve a successful separation,” Dr. Kemp reflected. “Our goal was to create opportunities that they otherwise would not have had, while preserving their greatest potential for continued growth and development.”