These conjoined twins were born with fused heads — an extremely rare case, occurring less than once in a million. But today, each lives her own life. Discover how their fate unfolded.
The nine-month-old sisters Abigail and Michaela Bachinski were born with fused heads — an extremely rare case of craniopagus twins, occurring less than once in a million.
From the first weeks of pregnancy, doctors closely observed the girls, planning step by step for their rescue. In the parents’ home, calls from the clinic rang constantly: checkups, consultations, hopes.
The surgeons even created a 3D model of their skulls and conducted “rehearsals” for the upcoming surgery, as if preparing for an extremely complex dance where every second and every movement could be decisive.
When the day of surgery arrived, over thirty specialists — neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses — gathered in the room. Work continued for almost twenty-four hours without interruption. At times, it seemed that the hearts of the team and the girls were beating in unison.
An unexpected finding during the procedure required an immediate decision — and the doctors made a choice upon which both of their lives depended.
The operating room silence was broken only by the sounds of equipment and the muted voices of the doctors. On October 24, 2020, at UC Davis Children’s Hospital, the surgery began, which the team had been preparing for months.
At dawn on October 25, a miracle occurred. Abigail and Michaela existed separately for the first time. Their mother, with a prayer ready, heard the long-awaited words: “The surgery was successful.”
Today, the girls live at home, can look each other in the eyes, and at UC Davis this event is proudly considered one of the most complex and touching victories in the history of medicine.
Today, the girls lead a full and vibrant life. See what they have become.
