When Amy Carlsen was pregnant, nothing could have prepared her and her husband, Jesse, for what the doctors told them. Not only were they expecting twins, but they were conjoined twins. Then, after six months of being joined at the chest, they separated for good. Now, 16 years later, they are living healthy teenage years.

The Carlsen Siamese Twins

In December 2005, Abby and Isabelle Carlsen were born to Jesse and Amy. They were two beautiful girls, but they had one characteristic that stood out among all the babies born that day: they were connected at the chest and stomach. This meant they had to stay in the hospital after birth because their organs were intertwined. This caused serious complications and put their lives at risk. Isabelle’s heart was more on Abby’s side, in their shared chest, and other organs were intertwined.

The separation

Then, after months of research, doctors found a way to permanently separate them. It was a dream come true for their parents, although they were informed of the risks. It took 17 different surgeons. There was a team for each connected body part and a team for each of the conjoined twins: a pancreas team, a liver team, a team of plastic surgeons, and more.
Fortunately, after a full day of operations, Abby and Isabelle officially became conjoined twins on May 12, 2006. Jesse told the media,   “Today, many of our prayers were answered.”   About two weeks after the intense surgery, the now-separated twins returned home with their parents.

Growing up

When the twins celebrated 10 years of separation, their story came back into the spotlight. People wanted to know what they were like now that they were growing up. What was certain was that they had a lot of energy, which they channeled through gymnastics.

The conjoined twins shared few interests, and gymnastics was one of them. If anyone confused them, they were firmly corrected. “  They don’t want to be confused,”   said their father, Jesse.   “They’re very independent.”   Abby confirmed this, saying,   “Every night we look in our bedroom mirror and think, ‘How could we be confused?’”

At school, their teacher, Tiffany Moos, described them as an energetic couple. They combine their quick learning ability with social skills that make them easy to make friends.   “I can’t imagine how healthy they are; nothing stops them,”   Moos said in an interview with WCCO. “  They’re academically advanced, and socially, they’re friends with everyone. There’s a reason they should be separated.”

Do you remember?

They live healthy and happy lives, completely unaware of their past as conjoined twins. However, both wear a necklace that says ”  One in a Million”   as the only reminder of their past. It’s been 16 years since the separation surgery that made history in the medical world. There are some subtle signs that their bodies remember being connected.   “At the mall, we like to hold hands. It’s weird,”   the girls said.

The twins, formerly conjoined, share an unparalleled twin connection. They have experienced telepathic moments in which they share the same thoughts, as evidenced when one of them speaks out loud. They have even conversed with each other without saying a single word.