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Twins conjoined at the head are separated in 25-hour surgery at St. Louis hospital

CBS News • September 18, 2026 • general

Key Points:

Two-year-old Ethiopian conjoined twins, Hiyab and Wuhbto, born with the rare craniopagus condition joining them at the head, were successfully separated in a 25-hour surgery at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis.
The complex operation, involving nearly 30 specialists and nearly a year of planning, addressed shared blood vessels and small fused areas of their brains, marking a significant medical achievement led by Dr. Joanna Kemp, the first female neurosurgeon in the U.S. to perform this surgery.
After living nearly two years unable to see each other’s faces, the twins are now separated and receiving ongoing care and rehabilitation at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital in Missouri, with plans for further skull repair surgeries.
The girls traveled from Ethiopia with a guardian as their parents were unable to obtain visas, and the hospital aims to reunite the twins with their family in Ethiopia once their recovery progresses.
The successful separation represents a major milestone in the twins’ medical journey, supported by a global network of pediatric providers and charitable organizations.

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