Rosie and Ruby Formosa, twin sisters from Bexleyheath in Kent, faced a life-threatening challenge from the moment they were born. Conjoined at the abdomen and sharing an intestine, their condition required immediate surgery to give them any chance of survival. The complexity of their situation left doctors unsure if separating them was even possible, and their parents were warned that the odds of survival were extremely slim.
Despite the overwhelming uncertainty, their family clung to hope, praying for a miracle. That miracle came at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), where a team of skilled surgeons performed a complex and delicate operation, successfully separating the twins.
Their mother, Angela, recalls the emotional moment when she learned about their condition. “At 16 weeks, I was sent to King’s College Hospital, where they confirmed the girls were conjoined. It was devastating. I was already anxious because they were monoamniotic, and finding out they were conjoined felt like the worst-case scenario. I was terrified and heartbroken, especially when they said there was a high chance they wouldn’t survive the pregnancy.”
Even after being told the grim outlook, Angela remembers the constant fear. “Even if they survived the pregnancy, there was no guarantee they would make it through childbirth or surgery. The doctors couldn’t fully determine how they were connected, and that uncertainty was crushing.”
For a long time, the family didn’t even prepare to bring the girls home. “It wasn’t until after the surgery, when they were recovering, that my husband finally started painting the nursery and getting everything ready,” Angela shared.
Four years later, Rosie and Ruby defied all odds and were not only healthy but excited to begin a new chapter of their lives—starting school. Their proud mother spoke of the twins’ eagerness to meet their teacher and join their older sister Lilly at school. While the milestone was a joyous one, their parents admitted that the house would feel a little quieter without them during the day.
The journey of Rosie and Ruby is a testament to the power of hope, resilience, and medical expertise. We are overjoyed to see these beautiful girls thriving and wish them all the happiness and success in their future.
