Friday, June 23, 2017

Mom holds separated twin for first time

Mom holds separated twin for first time

By Wayne Drash, CNN
Updated 6:45 AM ET, Mon October 24, 2016
Anias, left, stares at Jadon for the first time since the surgery that separated them.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Anias, left, stares at Jadon for the first time since the surgery that separated them.
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Nicole McDonald, right, and her mother, Chris Grosso, with Anias in mid-November. Anias had to have his skull cap removed due to infection, but doctors say they are still pleased with his recovery.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Nicole McDonald, right, and her mother, Chris Grosso, with Anias in mid-November. Anias had to have his skull cap removed due to infection, but doctors say they are still pleased with his recovery.
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Anias, left, and Jadon lie in a red wagon at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center on December 13 as they prepare for the next stage of their journey, two months after their surgery.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Anias, left, and Jadon lie in a red wagon at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center on December 13 as they prepare for the next stage of their journey, two months after their surgery.
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The family was headed to the hospital's banquet hall on December 13, where surgical and pediatric intensive care staff members were gathered for a farewell party.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
The family was headed to the hospital's banquet hall on December 13, where surgical and pediatric intensive care staff members were gathered for a farewell party.
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14 of 21
Dr. Oren Tepper, the twins' lead plastic surgeon, holds a thank you gift from the McDonald family presented to him at the farewell party.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Dr. Oren Tepper, the twins' lead plastic surgeon, holds a thank you gift from the McDonald family presented to him at the farewell party.
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Nicole McDonald holds Anias as his twin brother, Jadon, sleeps in the bed to the left. The twins' older brother, Aza, watches television at the hospital from one of the boys' beds shortly before they left for rehab.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Nicole McDonald holds Anias as his twin brother, Jadon, sleeps in the bed to the left. The twins' older brother, Aza, watches television at the hospital from one of the boys' beds shortly before they left for rehab.
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Jadon, left, and Anias McDonald look up at hospital staff as they leave their room at Montefiore Children's Hospital in New York. Their older brother, Aza, proudly sits at the front of the wagon. It was mid-December and they were headed to rehab.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Jadon, left, and Anias McDonald look up at hospital staff as they leave their room at Montefiore Children's Hospital in New York. Their older brother, Aza, proudly sits at the front of the wagon. It was mid-December and they were headed to rehab.
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Nicole McDonald pushes a stroller with Anias as her husband Christian pushes Jadon down a hallway on June 14 at Blythedale Children's Hospital in Valhalla, New York, where the boys have been rehabilitating.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Nicole McDonald pushes a stroller with Anias as her husband Christian pushes Jadon down a hallway on June 14 at Blythedale Children's Hospital in Valhalla, New York, where the boys have been rehabilitating.
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Anias plays with a toy while laying on a mat in his room at Blythedale Children's Hospital.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Anias plays with a toy while laying on a mat in his room at Blythedale Children's Hospital.
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Jadon eats small snacks and drinks from a sippy cup on his own, major progress since he first moved to rehab six months ago.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Jadon eats small snacks and drinks from a sippy cup on his own, major progress since he first moved to rehab six months ago.
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Nicole McDonald plays with her son Anias as Christian McDonald holds Jadon on a playground outside Blythedale Children's Hospital.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Nicole McDonald plays with her son Anias as Christian McDonald holds Jadon on a playground outside Blythedale Children's Hospital.
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Anias, left, and Jadon McDonald were born conjoined at the head, something only seen in 1 out of every 2.5 million live births. They were separated in a 27-hour surgery at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in New York in October.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Anias, left, and Jadon McDonald were born conjoined at the head, something only seen in 1 out of every 2.5 million live births. They were separated in a 27-hour surgery at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in New York in October.
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Nicole and Christian McDonald talk with Dr. Sanjay Gupta in the family waiting area on October 13 as a team worked to separate Jadon and Anias. "When we sent them off this morning, to me, I felt at peace with it and just ready to handle what comes after," Nicole said.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Nicole and Christian McDonald talk with Dr. Sanjay Gupta in the family waiting area on October 13 as a team worked to separate Jadon and Anias. "When we sent them off this morning, to me, I felt at peace with it and just ready to handle what comes after," Nicole said.
Hide Caption
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Dr. James Goodrich Goodrich, left, leads a surgical team as they prepared to separate the twins. "Failure is not an option," Goodrich told the team as they got started.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Dr. James Goodrich Goodrich, left, leads a surgical team as they prepared to separate the twins. "Failure is not an option," Goodrich told the team as they got started.
Hide Caption
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01 graphic warning single
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
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The twins' surgery was Goodrich's longest craniopagus surgery. It's meticulous, tricky and complex: A single cut too deep can lead to catastrophic bleeding.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
The twins' surgery was Goodrich's longest craniopagus surgery. It's meticulous, tricky and complex: A single cut too deep can lead to catastrophic bleeding.
Hide Caption
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Goodrich's team worked more than 16 hours just to separate the boys, and each continued surgery individually afterward.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Goodrich's team worked more than 16 hours just to separate the boys, and each continued surgery individually afterward.
Hide Caption
6 of 21
Newly separated twins Anias, left, and Jadon in surgery at the hospital. Goodrich informed the family of the successful separation at about 3 a.m. October 14. "Well, we did it," he told them. When it was official, the room burst into spontaneous applause.<br />
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Newly separated twins Anias, left, and Jadon in surgery at the hospital. Goodrich informed the family of the successful separation at about 3 a.m. October 14. "Well, we did it," he told them. When it was official, the room burst into spontaneous applause.
Hide Caption
7 of 21
Jadon recovers in the pediatric intensive care unit shortly after the surgery.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Jadon recovers in the pediatric intensive care unit shortly after the surgery.
Hide Caption
8 of 21
Anias returns to his room after his head dressing was changed.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Anias returns to his room after his head dressing was changed.
Hide Caption
9 of 21
Jadon stretches his arms in his room within the hospital's pediatric intensive care unit. Anias rests in a nearby bed in the same room.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Jadon stretches his arms in his room within the hospital's pediatric intensive care unit. Anias rests in a nearby bed in the same room.
Hide Caption
10 of 21
Anias, left, stares at Jadon for the first time since the surgery that separated them.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Anias, left, stares at Jadon for the first time since the surgery that separated them.
Hide Caption
11 of 21
Nicole McDonald, right, and her mother, Chris Grosso, with Anias in mid-November. Anias had to have his skull cap removed due to infection, but doctors say they are still pleased with his recovery.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Nicole McDonald, right, and her mother, Chris Grosso, with Anias in mid-November. Anias had to have his skull cap removed due to infection, but doctors say they are still pleased with his recovery.
Hide Caption
12 of 21
Anias, left, and Jadon lie in a red wagon at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center on December 13 as they prepare for the next stage of their journey, two months after their surgery.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Anias, left, and Jadon lie in a red wagon at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center on December 13 as they prepare for the next stage of their journey, two months after their surgery.
Hide Caption
13 of 21
The family was headed to the hospital's banquet hall on December 13, where surgical and pediatric intensive care staff members were gathered for a farewell party.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
The family was headed to the hospital's banquet hall on December 13, where surgical and pediatric intensive care staff members were gathered for a farewell party.
Hide Caption
14 of 21
Dr. Oren Tepper, the twins' lead plastic surgeon, holds a thank you gift from the McDonald family presented to him at the farewell party.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Dr. Oren Tepper, the twins' lead plastic surgeon, holds a thank you gift from the McDonald family presented to him at the farewell party.
Hide Caption
15 of 21
Nicole McDonald holds Anias as his twin brother, Jadon, sleeps in the bed to the left. The twins' older brother, Aza, watches television at the hospital from one of the boys' beds shortly before they left for rehab.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Nicole McDonald holds Anias as his twin brother, Jadon, sleeps in the bed to the left. The twins' older brother, Aza, watches television at the hospital from one of the boys' beds shortly before they left for rehab.
Hide Caption
16 of 21
Jadon, left, and Anias McDonald look up at hospital staff as they leave their room at Montefiore Children's Hospital in New York. Their older brother, Aza, proudly sits at the front of the wagon. It was mid-December and they were headed to rehab.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Jadon, left, and Anias McDonald look up at hospital staff as they leave their room at Montefiore Children's Hospital in New York. Their older brother, Aza, proudly sits at the front of the wagon. It was mid-December and they were headed to rehab.
Hide Caption
17 of 21
Nicole McDonald pushes a stroller with Anias as her husband Christian pushes Jadon down a hallway on June 14 at Blythedale Children's Hospital in Valhalla, New York, where the boys have been rehabilitating.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Nicole McDonald pushes a stroller with Anias as her husband Christian pushes Jadon down a hallway on June 14 at Blythedale Children's Hospital in Valhalla, New York, where the boys have been rehabilitating.
Hide Caption
18 of 21
Anias plays with a toy while laying on a mat in his room at Blythedale Children's Hospital.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Anias plays with a toy while laying on a mat in his room at Blythedale Children's Hospital.
Hide Caption
19 of 21
Jadon eats small snacks and drinks from a sippy cup on his own, major progress since he first moved to rehab six months ago.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Jadon eats small snacks and drinks from a sippy cup on his own, major progress since he first moved to rehab six months ago.
Hide Caption
20 of 21
Nicole McDonald plays with her son Anias as Christian McDonald holds Jadon on a playground outside Blythedale Children's Hospital.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Nicole McDonald plays with her son Anias as Christian McDonald holds Jadon on a playground outside Blythedale Children's Hospital.
Hide Caption
21 of 21
Anias, left, and Jadon McDonald were born conjoined at the head, something only seen in 1 out of every 2.5 million live births. They were separated in a 27-hour surgery at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in New York in October.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Anias, left, and Jadon McDonald were born conjoined at the head, something only seen in 1 out of every 2.5 million live births. They were separated in a 27-hour surgery at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in New York in October.
Hide Caption
1 of 21
Nicole and Christian McDonald talk with Dr. Sanjay Gupta in the family waiting area on October 13 as a team worked to separate Jadon and Anias. "When we sent them off this morning, to me, I felt at peace with it and just ready to handle what comes after," Nicole said.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Nicole and Christian McDonald talk with Dr. Sanjay Gupta in the family waiting area on October 13 as a team worked to separate Jadon and Anias. "When we sent them off this morning, to me, I felt at peace with it and just ready to handle what comes after," Nicole said.
Hide Caption
2 of 21
Dr. James Goodrich Goodrich, left, leads a surgical team as they prepared to separate the twins. "Failure is not an option," Goodrich told the team as they got started.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Dr. James Goodrich Goodrich, left, leads a surgical team as they prepared to separate the twins. "Failure is not an option," Goodrich told the team as they got started.
Hide Caption
3 of 21
01 graphic warning single
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Hide Caption
4 of 21
The twins' surgery was Goodrich's longest craniopagus surgery. It's meticulous, tricky and complex: A single cut too deep can lead to catastrophic bleeding.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
The twins' surgery was Goodrich's longest craniopagus surgery. It's meticulous, tricky and complex: A single cut too deep can lead to catastrophic bleeding.
Hide Caption
5 of 21
Goodrich's team worked more than 16 hours just to separate the boys, and each continued surgery individually afterward.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Goodrich's team worked more than 16 hours just to separate the boys, and each continued surgery individually afterward.
Hide Caption
6 of 21
Newly separated twins Anias, left, and Jadon in surgery at the hospital. Goodrich informed the family of the successful separation at about 3 a.m. October 14. "Well, we did it," he told them. When it was official, the room burst into spontaneous applause.<br />
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Newly separated twins Anias, left, and Jadon in surgery at the hospital. Goodrich informed the family of the successful separation at about 3 a.m. October 14. "Well, we did it," he told them. When it was official, the room burst into spontaneous applause.
Hide Caption
7 of 21
Jadon recovers in the pediatric intensive care unit shortly after the surgery.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Jadon recovers in the pediatric intensive care unit shortly after the surgery.
Hide Caption
8 of 21
Anias returns to his room after his head dressing was changed.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Anias returns to his room after his head dressing was changed.
Hide Caption
9 of 21
Jadon stretches his arms in his room within the hospital's pediatric intensive care unit. Anias rests in a nearby bed in the same room.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Jadon stretches his arms in his room within the hospital's pediatric intensive care unit. Anias rests in a nearby bed in the same room.
Hide Caption
10 of 21
Anias, left, stares at Jadon for the first time since the surgery that separated them.
Photos: Conjoined twins separated: New life, apart
Anias, left, stares at Jadon for the first time since the surgery that separated them.
Hide Caption
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Story highlights

  • Twins' mother: "I've dreamed of this moment"
  • Jadon and Anias McDonald were separated after 27-hour surgery
(CNN)In what can best be described as a bundle of cuteness, Nicole McDonald held her son Jadon alone for the first time. The mother described it as "one of the most profound moments of my life."
Mom grinned from ear to ear as she cradled the young boy Friday afternoon at a New York hospital, mesmerized by the gaze of his deep brown eyes. The precious moment came shortly after doctors removed Jadon's breathing tube, and it came one week after the 27-hour surgery to separate Jadon and his brother Anias, 13-month-old twins who were born conjoined at the head.
Nicole clutched Jadon for two hours, cherishing every lasting second. She had told CNN before the surgery that holding her two boys was the thing she longed for most. "There's nothing harder than watching your child cry and not being able to pick them up," she had said. "To hear them cry and react to it in a motherly way is something I'm really excited for."
Formerly conjoined twins now in recovery

Formerly conjoined twins now in recovery 03:05
Nicole took to Facebook on Sunday morning, describing to friends and family what it was like to finally hold Jadon.
"For over 13 months, I've dreamed of this moment," she wrote. "I looked down at Jadon's angelic face and saw him in a way I'd never seen him before. He whimpered for almost the whole two hours I held him because he had just been extubated, had the area under his scalp washed out and had been weaned from the good pain meds.
"But instead of wrapping my body around him in his bed, I wrapped my arms around him and rocked. One of the most profound moments of my life."
Nicole's husband, Christian McDonald, was away from the hospital when Nicole first held Jadon, and he rushed back to join. However, once he got there, the father decided Jadon was too upset and fragile to be held again, with so many wires hooked up to his tiny body.
"I was just happy Nicole got to hold him. She's been longing to hold him since the day the twins were born," Christian said. "That's a very special moment for a mother to share."
Conjoined Twins Fast Facts
Conjoined Twins Fast Facts
The McDonalds have yet to share that same moment with Anias, who is progressing slower than Jadon, but still doing well. Anias had suffered breathing issues, seizures and heart problems prior to the surgery, and doctors expected his recovery to take more time. Anias has suffered seizures since the surgery, but they have been held in check with medicine since Wednesday, officials said.
Both boys underwent a touch-up procedure to clean out incisions on their heads on Wednesday. Jadon and Anias were described as doing well after that procedure.
Dr. James Goodrich, considered the world's leading neurosurgeon for what's known as craniopagus surgery, led the operaton at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. It marked the 59th craniopagus surgery in the world since 1952.
Jadon and Anias have captured the hearts of millions across the world, ever since CNN broke the story about the twins' surgery. The hashtag #JadonAndAnias emerged as a trend on social media as people shared their ordeal and clamored for more updates.
The parents continue to be overwhelmed and grateful for the support they've received around the globe. Since the surgery started, their GoFundMe page has swelled from some $50,000 to more than $280,000. The family has asked that anyone wanting to help the twins instead make a donation to a friend whose child is in need of a kidney transplant.
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