Born Joined at the Head, These Twin Sisters Couldn’t Look Into Each Other’s Eyes — Until a 24-Hour Surgery Changed Their Lives

For the first months of their lives, Abigail and Micaela Bachinskiy shared a connection that most people could scarcely imagine.

Born physically joined at the head, the twin sisters could hear each other and feel one another nearby, but they could not turn around and look directly into each other’s eyes.

Their mother, Liliya, had learned about the rare condition just 11 weeks into her pregnancy.

What followed was a journey filled with uncertainty, extraordinary medical preparation and a moment that would change the family’s life forever.

A Frightening Discovery at 11 Weeks Pregnant

Liliya and her husband, Anatoliy, were already raising three boys when they discovered they were expecting twin girls.

But an early ultrasound revealed that their daughters were conjoined at the head, a rare condition known as craniopagus.

The family was referred to the UC Davis Fetal Care and Treatment Center in California, where specialists began carefully monitoring the babies’ development.

Doctors used fetal MRI imaging to understand the twins’ shared anatomy and prepare for the challenges of delivery.

On December 30, 2019, Abigail and Micaela entered the world at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

After spending seven weeks in neonatal intensive care, the girls were finally able to go home with their parents.

Preparing Two Little Girls for Separate Lives

Although the twins had survived birth, separating them would be an exceptionally complicated undertaking.

Their skulls were connected, and surgeons needed to carefully evaluate the shared blood vessels and brain tissue.

Doctors spent months studying detailed MRI and CT images, developing three-dimensional models and rehearsing different surgical scenarios.

In June 2020, specialists placed custom-designed tissue expanders beneath the girls’ scalp to encourage additional skin growth.

That extra tissue would eventually help surgeons reconstruct and cover their heads after separation.

More than 30 medical professionals prepared for the operation, with separate teams assigned to each child.

At 3:28 A.M., Everything Changed

On October 24, 2020, Abigail and Micaela entered the operating room for a marathon separation procedure.

The medical team faced the delicate task of dividing their shared blood vessels and connected brain tissue while protecting each child’s circulation.

The operation required multiple changes in positioning and careful coordination between surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses.

Then, at exactly 3:28 a.m. on October 25, pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Edwards announced that the cranial separation had been completed.

After months of preparation, the sisters were physically apart.

Medical staff applauded as the team continued working to reconstruct each girl’s skull and scalp.

The complete procedure lasted approximately 24 hours.

A Mother Finally Sees Her Daughters Face-to-Face

Because the operation took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, Liliya could not wait inside the hospital throughout the procedure.

Instead, she received updates while family and supporters waited anxiously for news.

When she was finally able to see her daughters after surgery, the sight was overwhelming.

For the first time, Abigail and Micaela could turn toward each other and make eye contact.

They were no longer two babies sharing one connected position. They could be held separately, cared for individually and begin discovering the world from their own perspectives.

After further recovery, the girls returned home to their parents and three older brothers.

Six Years Later, Their Extraordinary Bond Continues

In January 2026, Liliya shared an update about her daughters’ lives in an interview with The Guardian.

Abigail and Micaela were now six years old.

Abigail was able to run around, while Micaela was also making progress with her mobility at her own pace.

The sisters had developed their own special way of communicating and remained deeply loved by their three older brothers.

Their mother recalled another meaningful milestone: when the girls were five, they were able to look at photographs from their earliest days and understand which baby was Abigail and which was Micaela.

For Liliya, the journey had taught her to treasure the present rather than constantly fear the future.

After beginning life joined at the head, her daughters were now growing, learning and making memories as two individuals.

They would always share an extraordinary bond, but they could finally look into each other’s eyes.

Sources: UC Davis Health, October 29, 2020; UC Davis Children’s Hospital, Conjoined Twins Separation documentary series; The Guardian, January 23, 2026.