Born Joined Together, Two Baby Sisters Shared Vital Organs for 13 Months — Until a 13-Hour Surgery Gave Them Separate Lives

For the first 13 months of their lives, Dicecea and Jesepeli Kikau had never experienced what most babies take for granted: living in two separate bodies.

Born in Fiji on September 6, 2025, the little sisters were physically connected at their lower abdomen and pelvis, sharing several vital organs.

Their parents faced an extraordinary challenge from the moment they entered the world. But after months of uncertainty and a journey thousands of miles from home, the girls would finally receive a chance at independent lives.

Three Babies, but Two Were Born Joined Together

Dicecea and Jesepeli were born eight weeks prematurely as part of a set of triplets.

Their third sister, Hossana, was born separately, while the other two girls had a rare condition known as omphalo-ischiopagus tetrapus.

Although Dicecea and Jesepeli had their own hearts and lungs, they shared parts of their liver, intestines, urinary system and other pelvic structures.

For their parents, Akeneta and Watisoni Vulimaiigiladi, raising three premature babies was already demanding. The twins’ complex medical condition brought an additional layer of fear about what their future might hold.

A Life-Changing Operation Their Family Could Not Afford

Separating the girls would require an exceptionally complicated operation involving multiple medical specialties.

The family explored treatment possibilities overseas, but the cost of specialized surgery was far beyond what they could afford.

According to reports, hospitals in several countries required substantial upfront payments.

Eventually, the family received an offer of treatment through the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, which agreed to provide the separation surgery free of charge.

In July 2026, the twins traveled with their parents to Riyadh, where specialists began months of detailed examinations and surgical planning.

A Mother’s Emotional Goodbye Before Surgery

On October 15, 2026, the girls were taken into the operating theatre at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital.

Before the procedure, their parents gave them additional Arabic names: Sarah for Dicecea and Noorah for Jesepeli.

Their mother later recalled the emotional moment when she and her husband kissed their daughters goodbye and wished them well.

She watched the procedure’s progress through a video link, waiting for news from the medical team.

Thirty-four medical professionals were involved in the operation, which had been carefully divided into nine stages.

12 Hours and 45 Minutes That Changed Everything

Led by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, the surgical team began the delicate work of separating the girls’ shared organs and anatomical structures.

Doctors had to address their connected liver, bowel, urinary tract and pelvic anatomy before proceeding with reconstruction.

Despite the complexity, the medical team reported encouraging progress during the procedure.

After 12 hours and 45 minutes, the surgeons successfully completed the separation.

For the first time since their birth, Dicecea and Jesepeli were physically apart.

The operation marked the first separation of conjoined twins from Fiji under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program and the program’s 74th separation procedure.

Two Little Girls, Two Separate Futures

Following surgery, the sisters began the important next stage of their journey: recovery.

According to an October 22 update from The Fiji Times, both girls were recovering well, bringing renewed hope to their family.

The successful separation did not erase the challenges they had already faced or the need for continued medical care. But it represented a profound milestone.

For 13 months, the girls had shared much more than the ordinary bond between sisters.

Now, with their third sister Hossana waiting as part of their family’s story, Dicecea and Jesepeli have the opportunity to grow as two separate little girls.

For their parents, the operation transformed months of fear and uncertainty into the beginning of a new chapter.

Sources: ABC News Australia, October 16, 2026; Arab News, October 16, 2026; The Fiji Times, October 22, 2026.