Separated twins get ready to leave hospital as their mom says they still hold hands when they walk

Doctors expect two formerly conjoined toddlers from the Dominican Republic to return home by Christmas after recovering from separation surgery in Virginia.



Maria and Teresa Tapia underwent complicated, nearly day-long surgery on November 8 at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University.



‘They are enjoying life now that they're separated,’ said their mother, Lisandra Sanatis. ‘They enjoy seeing themselves as individuals.’

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Happily separated: Maria and Teresa Tapia had surgery in Virginia on November 8 and are expected to return home to the Dominican Republic before Christmas Helping hands: Mother Lisandra Sanatis (left) holds Teresa as friend Rocio Castanos (right) holds Maria Still close: The twins mother said that the pair still holds hands as they walk, even though they are now separated

In a series of procedures, the surgical team divided the twins' liver, pancreas and other shared organ systems and reconstructed their abdominal walls.



While they're getting accustomed to exploring their surroundings separately, they still stay near each other and hold hands when they walk.

After being in Richmond for several months now, Ms Sanatis says she and her daughters are more than ready to leave the confines of the hospital and are anxious to return to their family in their native country.

Success: Lisandra Sanatis holds Teresa, but says that they all long to return to the Dominican Republic soon

Happy apart: The two girls both had successful surgeries and are now adjusting to their new lives

Together: The twins in November before they were separated

‘We're missing our family, and the girls miss their little brother, Lisander,’ she said.



They also haven't acquired a taste for American fare – including hospital meals – preferring instead to get takeout Dominican food, including the traditional beans and rice and other dishes.



Well-wishers have extended their support, including Rocio Castanos, a friend of the Dominican first lady who popped in Thursday for a visit on the twins' last full day in the hospital.



On previous visits, Ms Castanos brought each girl a stuffed animal and offered to cook them some sancocho, a traditional Dominican soup.



Dr. David Lanning, a surgeon and head of the medical team that is caring for the 20-month-old girls, says both children have been recovering well.

Happy success: Ms Sanatis holds the hand of her daughter Maria after she received 20 hours of surgery in Richmond, Virginia

Immediate outcome: Theresa, laying in bed recovering as her mother smiles alongside her, received 18.5 hours of treatment

Maria, the smaller of the two, weighs about 19 pounds, and Teresa weighs about 26 pounds. Lanning expects the disparity in their weight, caused by the configuration of their small intestines and blood flow from the liver, to gradually even out.



Maria's pancreas is slow to produce digestive enzymes, but she is taking replacement enzymes. Teresa is undergoing treatment on the incision where the girls were separated.



The toddlers were scheduled to leave the hospital Friday.

They will remain in Richmond while they undergo outpatient therapy to relearn walking and otherwise reorient their movements now that they're no longer attached.

Attire: Students from the Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising created new outfits for the toddlers

Normal girls: Ms Sanatis said that while conjoined, they fought the same way every pair of sisters do, but until now, they were not able to leave each other afterwards

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