They were born joined at the head, but today they laugh, walk, and play — separately. 💫 Débora Freitas fought alone for 18 months until a team of international doctors made the impossible possible. After a 15-hour surgery, Isabel and Isadora gained their freedom. 👧👧 Today, they conquer life step by step.
From the beginning, their mother, Débora Freitas, refused to give up hope. For 18 months, she cared for her daughters almost entirely on her own, dreaming of a day when they could live freely as individuals. That dream began to take shape when a team of international specialists gathered to take on their case.
Among them was Dr. James Goodrich, a renowned American neurosurgeon who pioneered a staged surgical method for separating conjoined craniopagus twins. Isabel and Isadora underwent four intricate surgeries, culminating in a final procedure in November 2018 that lasted an intense 15 hours. 8.5 hours were spent separating the skulls, while the remaining time focused on reconstructing their scalp using skin previously expanded in preparation.
The outcome was extraordinary. Not only did the girls survive — they began to thrive. Now two years old, they are in active rehabilitation, learning to walk and play under the guidance of Dr. Maristela Bergamo and her team.
Though their journey is ongoing and full recovery may take years, their doctors believe they will catch up developmentally with their peers by the time they turn five.
For their parents, simply being able to hold each child in their arms separately is a daily reminder of how love, perseverance, and medical science can truly work miracles
