Twins born conjoined celebrate 1st birthday after separation surgery

PHILADELPHIA — Twin brothers who were born together recently celebrated their first anniversary after undergoing successful separation surgery.

Amari and Javar Ruffin, whose family lives in Philadelphia, were born via C-section on September 29, 2023. The brothers – who shared part of their sternum, diaphragm, abdominal wall and liver – weighed a combined 6 pounds.

On August 21, a surgical team from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia with more than 20 specialists, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists, nurses and many others, operated for eight hours to separate the boys. Their abdomens were closed and rebuilt using layers of mesh and plastic surgery techniques.

The boys went home on October 8 to be with their parents, Tim and Shaneka, and their siblings, Kaylum and Anora.

“It was an indescribable feeling to see them all in their own beds,” said Shaneka Ruffin. “It feels like we are starting a new journey as a family of six. We are so grateful to CHOP for making this day possible and allowing us to begin this next chapter.”

The Ruffins discovered that the twins had been connected through a routine ultrasound after 12 weeks of pregnancy. Shaneka Ruffin said she was advised to terminate her pregnancy. They got a second opinion and the hospital told them that even though the boys had a rare condition, they could be successfully separated.

Conjoined twins occur about once every 35,000 to 80,000 births. The hospital is one of only a few in the U.S. with expertise in separating them.