HOUSTON – Conjoined twin girls born at Texas Children's Pavilion for Women in April underwent a five-hour surgery Tuesday at Texas Children's Hospital to place custom-made tissue expanders into their chest and abdomen area.
The tissue expanders will help to stretch the skin of Knatalye Hope and Adeline Faith Mata in preparation for their separation surgery at Texas Children's Hospital.
Their parents' faith is evident as they cope with the process.
"I felt they are a miracle and I felt their names needed to be something that was given from the one who gave them to me which was God and so I put Hope and Faith," said their mother Elysse Mata. "He's obviously working miracles... giving them their own hearts, their brains are perfectly healthy, they share the liver which can be separated, intestines can be split, diaphragm the same."
The Lubbock family are eager to have their girls separated.
"I can't wait to be able to hold two individual babies and kiss look at both at the same time. I'm so excited," Elysse said.
The surgery is expected to take place early next year.