Sydney and Lexi Stark’s parents were shocked to learn that their twin girls would be joined at the lower half. The specialists took photographs of how the two young ladies’ bottoms were coming together, rather than developing separately. After learning that less than 50% of conjoined twins survive outside the womb, they had no idea what to expect.
Worse yet, only 35 percent of conjoined twins survive their first day on earth – if they survive at all. Since the start, Sydney and Lexi have been defying the odds!
The pair were born healthy and safe. Their parents couldn’t have asked for anything more, and they hoped that their daughters would make it to their second day – and many, many more after that.
The infants were fastened one on top of the other, just above their hips. If it wasn’t addressed quickly, they might never be able to be separated. But there was more going on than that.
Their parents were faced with a difficult choice. Accept the operation and risk the health of their twin babies, or refuse it and subject them to lifelong agony. At the end of the day, they wanted their daughters to have the finest lives possible, so they decided to go through with the surgery.
The spinal cord of Sydney and Lexi was connected, as well as the intestines. Doctors thought they could figure out how to make it work after seeing their shared spine and intestines. Hours passed in the chilly waiting room until a nurse finally came out to tell the parents that everything had gone exactly as planned!
When the pair were 15, they announced their engagement via a handwritten note presented on live television. They are now 17 years old and were recently featured on Megyn Kelly’s popular NBC program. In the years since their split, while remaining incredibly connected, the two have led independent lives as well.
“We both are outgoing in very different ways,” Sydney said. “I tend to go for it first, then she will after me.”
They still have a lot in common that no one else understands. If they are napping in the same bed, they will switch back to their “conjoined twin” position when they fall asleep! As a result, regardless of how old these wonderful girls get, they will always have an exceedingly special, one-of-a-kind connection.
The twins also spoke about their “twin senses.” Sydney recounted the time she was getting a shot at the hospital and her sister was at home when they were only 5 or 6 years old. This appears to be an unforgettable experience for them, even though they were only 5 or 6 years old.
“I was getting a shot. And it was a painful shot. I was unbothered, and my parents were on the phone, and my dad was telling my mom that my sister was freaking out, and she was in tears and hysterics.” Sydney continued. “I’m just getting the shot and nothing was happening.”
Sydney and Lexi are two extraordinary twins who are living life to the fullest. They don’t take any of it for granted, and they’re not taking a day off. Sydney and Lexi have already defied the odds, but there’s still plenty of time ahead of them!
Did you know that conjoined twins are quite uncommon? Leave a remark below to share your thoughts!
