The sisters, Kathleen and Charity Lincoln, were joined from the sternum through the pelvis and shared several internal organs. Each had her own pelvis, but the pelvic rings were open and fused. Among other things, the two shared a liver, bowel, and bladder, which the surgeons divided. They also reconstructed the girls’ reproductive systems. Each had one leg and shared a third. This third leg was not functional as a limb, so muscle, skin and soft tissue from the third leg was used to reconstruct the abdominal wall of one of the girls. Surgery on the 7-month-old girls began on a Saturday morning and ended Sunday afternoon.

The girls went home less than a month later, and though they face physical challenges and may have additional surgeries, there is optimism for a successful long-term outcome, said Waldhausen.

The twins were born at UW Medical Center to Greg and Vaneice Lincoln of Olympia, who report that they are doing fine.

“They continue to develop and grow very well,” said their father. “They have therapy once a week and are learning to use walkers, though at this point they prefer to scoot around the house without them. Their siblings continue to spoil them and dote on them, which is nice to see.”