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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

California conjoined twins separated in successful surgery

Associated Press

PALO ALTO, Calif. – Conjoined California twins Eva and Erika Sandoval have become two separate toddlers following a 17-hour marathon surgery at the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.

The Sacramento Bee reported the 2-year-old Sacramento area girls were born conjoined from the chest down.

Father Arturo Sandoval called Wednesday’s surgery a “major success.”

Hospital officials say the twins and are expected to remain in intensive care for up to two weeks.

Before surgery, the girls shared a bladder, liver, parts of their digestive system and a third leg.

Their parents say each girl retains portions of the organs they shared.

Each still has one leg.

The third limb was used for skin grafts to cover surgical wounds.

Stanford surgeons told the newspaper both girls would likely need a prosthetic leg.