Abigail and Micaela Bachinskiy were born sharing one of the rarest conditions in medicine — craniopagus twinning, where twins are joined at the head. While conjoined twins are already extremely uncommon, only about 2% are fused at the skull, making this a one-in-2.5-million birth event.

From the earliest days of pregnancy, the family received care through the UC Davis Fetal Care and Treatment Center, the only comprehensive facility of its kind in inland Northern California. A fetal MRI gave doctors critical insight into the girls’ anatomy, while special conjoined manikin dolls were created to rehearse their delivery. For months, medical teams practiced countless scenarios — from compromised airways to potential lung complications — even designing custom CPAP headgear for each twin.

On December 30, 2019, Abigail and Micaela were born at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. They spent seven weeks in the NICU before finally going home, with their mother Liliya expressing gratitude for the staff’s care and support.

Planning for Separation
By nine months old, doctors determined it was time to separate the girls. Waiting longer risked complications, as shared blood vessels and organs grow more complex with age — and the added dangers of flu, RSV, and COVID-19 made the timing critical.

In preparation, the team placed custom tissue expanders under the girls’ scalps to encourage extra skin growth for reconstruction after separation. Surgeons also used 3D-printed skull models and mixed reality goggles to map out and rehearse the delicate surgery. These advanced tools allowed them to navigate the complex tangle of shared blood vessels with precision before stepping into the operating room.

The 24-Hour Surgery
On October 24–25, 2020, a team of more than 30 specialists — including neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and plastic surgeons — carried out the first-ever conjoined twin separation at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

The 24-hour operation, led by pediatric neurosurgeon Michael Edwards and plastic surgeon Granger Wong, was a milestone for the hospital. After the marathon procedure, Abigail and Micaela were successfully separated and recovering in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

“This is a landmark surgery for us,” Dr. Edwards said. “Abigail and Micaela are doing well thanks to an extraordinary team effort. We’ve cared for them since birth, and now they have the chance to live independent lives.”
Their story stands as a powerful reminder of how preparation, teamwork, and cutting-edge technology can make the impossible possible.