The ten-month-old girl, identified only as Dominique, was taken from the Ivory Coast to a hospital in the US for a rare and complex six-hour operation performed by a team led by five surgeons
The ten-month-old girl, identified only as Dominique, was taken from the Ivory Coast to a hospital in the US for a complex surgery which was deemed a success.
A team led by five surgeons operated on the little girl for six hours, and she is said to be thriving following the rare procedure on March 8.
Dominique spent five days in hospital and is now recovering at the home of a foster family until she is healthy enough to fly back home to the West African nation.
Doctors who performed the surgery at Advocate Children's Hospital, in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, said the bottom half of the parasitic twin's undeveloped body was protruding from Dominique's neck and back.
John Ruge, a pediatric neurosurgeon at the hospital, told Reuters: "A parasitic twin is an identical twin that fails to fully separate in development.
"In other words, not another independent twin, but a twin that was dependent on her body system, such that Dominique's heart and lungs provided the nourishment."
Pediatric and reconstructive surgeon Frank Vicari added: "It's going rather well. She was only in the hospital a total of five days.
"She's been home with 'step-mum' and just doing very, very well."
The girl's foster mum, Nancy Swabb, has been caring for Dominique since she left her family in Ivory Coast and arrived in the US for surgery.
Dominique's family have been relying on her for updates.
Ms Swabb said: "She's been a joy. We really enjoyed having her in our family.
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