Twins can't be separated

By Richard Rolke 12:06:00PM, Aug 04 2007 Morningstar

Separation has been ruled out for Vernon’s conjoined twins. Doctors told the Simms and Hogan families Friday that Tatiana and Krista share too much of the brain cells, neural tissue and blood vessels. “Either they would both die (during separation) or they would both be disabled,” said grandma Louise McKay, who met with the doctors, along with daughter Felicia Simms. “Felicia had a feeling they couldn’t be separated and that’s OK. The only thing that’s important is they are healthy and happy.” That’s also the feeling of grandma Gail Hogan, whose son Brendan is the father of the nine-month-old girls. “Ideally, safe separation would have been best but they are healthy,” said Hogan. “There is no crisis. There is no reason for separation.”

She says that Brendan is satisfied with the outcome. “He said they are healthy and that’s all he cares about,” said Hogan. In fact, Hogan is pleased that a decision on separation has been made.
“We are no longer waiting. That was the hard part. We can go on from here,” she said. But there will still be medical challenges for the twins, especially for Tatiana who has high blood pressure. She is doing three-quarters of the work when it comes to processing the blood for her and her sister. But the blood pressure is being controlled through diet. “The doctors are very pleased with how the girls are doing. They are miracle babies,” said McKay. The girls will be back in Vancouver in October for another check-up. In the meantime, the girls are developing like most infants. Tatiana has her first tooth and they are both moving around. “We expect that they will be crawling soon,” said McKay.