Kathleen and Charity Lincoln have an interesting birth story. The twins were born with their abdomens connected and a few organs shared. Their condition was quite rare, and their survival wasn't certain.
Their mom waited until they turned 7 months old to separate them, which took a team of professionals 31 hours of surgery to accomplish. While the girls came out of it needing prosthetic legs — which they later traded in for hand crutches during their teenage years — they seemed to take to the separation well.
The girls were homeschooled for many of their years, but they chose to attend Harrisburg High School and later transitioned to college. But now one of the biggest challenges to date has come up — Charity learned she was expecting her own child.
One of the things that both Lincoln twins have is a good sense of spirit. The news media has caught up with them quite a few times since their surgery, and both Charity and Kathleen always seem grateful for what they have. They've managed to go through life proving that they can function just about like anyone else.
News of Charity's pregnancy was just another reminder of how far these girls have come. She even gave birth at the same hospital where, two decades before, doctors successfully separated her from her sister.
"It feels like full circle since my mom had us here and everything," she told Today.
Years ago, the operation was overseen by Dr. John Waldhausen. Charity got back in contact with the doctor when she learned the news of her own pregnancy. Dr. Waldhausen did, naturally, have some concerns at first.
"I didn't know if her uterus was going to allow her to carry a child," he admitted. "I didn't know if her abdominal wall reconstruction was going to allow her abdomen to expand in such a way that a baby could grow." These fears aside, the doctor was very happy to hear the news.
"When you're involved with an operation like that, you're really hoping that you can create a whole lifetime for somebody," he told Today. "And then to see this happening, this really comes full circle, so this is a great day for all of us." As it turns out, he's been following the twins like many others have, and he's often around to help them when they have a question about their unusual arrival.
Lucky for Charity, everything was in working order when it came to growing and delivering baby Alora. But it wasn't all smooth sailing. Alora arrived at nearly 34 weeks via C-section. Soon after her arrival, she was whisked away to the NICU.
"I wouldn't call it a miracle," said Dr. Waldhausen. "I would call it a medical triumph." Not only was he able to help give Charity and Kathleen their own independent lives, but he was able to help welcome in a new life after his initial success. "Charity's case really is the full obstetrical circle," commented Dr. Edith Cheng, who helped Charity with the delivery.
"Alora and I are both recovering well," Charity commented to People. "She is impressing the nurses and doctors with her progress. [My husband] Ruben and I are so proud of her. We hope that Alora grows up to be loving and kind. And that she has a very happy life."
Alora is very special, beating so many odds in order to safely arrive. Conjoined twins are not common. They occur about once in every 50,000 to 60,000 twin births. Many of them don't survive birth, and most of them are female.
Conjoined twins fused at the chest is most commonly seen. One of the biggest risks of survival are if twins share organs. Twins who share a heart can't be separated, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The team of doctors who work there is responsible for 25 separations of conjoined twins so far.
There are a lot of people to be happy for in this situation. It's wonderful to know that both Charity and Kathleen are thriving. It's also great for Dr. Waldhausen to know that he really made so much of this possible. And it's wonderful for baby Alora to have such an intriguing yet beautiful birth story.
