Nurses said that if one woke up, the other woke up too — as if they shared the same rhythm. But because their chest and abdomen were joined, it was hard for them to sit up, turn, or even find a comfortable position.

Their parents couldn’t hold each girl separately — they had to lift them together, carefully supporting their shared chest.

When the girls were a little over one year old, the team of 75 doctors decided to operate. Preparation took months: 3D models, dozens of scans, consultations with specialists.