Conjoined Twins
Sisters Ritag (left) and Rital Gaboura are seen together on a bed before an operation to separate them, in this undated photograph received in London on Sept. 18, 2011. Reuters

Formerly conjoined twins Jadon and Anias McDonald left the Bronx hospital Thursday where they were separated for the first time. The now 15-month-old twins were being transferred to Blythedale Children's Hospital in Westchester, New York, to receive specialized rehabilitation treatment.

The McDonald twins, who were joined at the head as craniopagus twins, were separated after a 27-hour surgery nine weeks ago at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. The twins were attached at the brain and the skull.

The hospital reportedly said that the boys suffered infections following the surgery, and Anias developed seizures that were now being controlled with medication.

"Jadon and Anias continue to surprise us every day," Dr. James Goodrich, who in part led the surgical team that separated the twins, said according to CBS News. "As one of my most difficult cases, we knew recovery would take time, but we are all amazed by how well the boys are bouncing back and are confident they will continue to achieve new milestones at Blythedale."

One-third of craniopagus twins die within 24 hours of birth. However, the boys were 13 months old at the time of their surgery. Cases of twins born conjoined are reportedly rare, occurring one in every 200,000 births.

See posts, photos and more on Facebook.

The mother of the twins said that she was eager for them to move on to the next phase of their recovery. The boys will undergo months of rehabilitation, including physical, occupational and speech therapy.

"This is a bittersweet day for us," Nicole McDonald reportedly said. "We are so proud of the strength our boys show us every day as they progress in their recovery, and we are looking forward to seeing them thrive in rehab."

RELATED STORIES