Emily and James Stark were expecting their first child when they discovered they were having conjoined twins. The twins, Lexi and Sydney, were joined at the spine, intestines, and tailbone. Despite the risks, the parents chose to have the girls separated seven months after birth. The operation was successful, and the twins have grown up with only minor health issues. Now 17 years old, Lexi and Sydney have distinct personalities but share a special bond, often reverting to their conjoined position when they sleep or are stressed. They experience a unique form of empathy, where one twin can sense the other's emotions even when they're in different locations. As they prepare to go to separate colleges, they're grateful for their parents' support and want to inspire other families with positive stories about conjoined twins.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. James and Emily Stark found out they were pregnant for the first time 18 years ago.
2. Emily had a feeling they would have twins.
3. At their next ultrasound appointment, the doctor told them the twins were conjoined.
4. Conjoined twins are rare, occurring in about one in 50 to 60 thousand births.
5. Between 40 to 60% of conjoined twins are delivered stillborn, and 35% survive only one day.
6. Lexie and Sydney Stark were born on March 9th, 2001, despite the expected complications.
7. The twins were conjoined at the spine and shared some intestines.
8. The twins had a high-risk surgery to be separated seven months after birth.
9. The separation surgery took place on October 9th.
10. Lexie and Sydney Stark are now 17 years old and have no major health problems as a result of being conjoined twins.
11. They have scars on their backs and stomachs from the surgery.
12. The twins have different personalities, but both are outgoing.
13. They often revert to their conjoined position when they sleep or are stressed.
14. They have had experiences of feeling each other's emotions, even when they are in different places.
15. The twins are planning to attend different colleges, with Lexie attending the University of Missouri and Sydney attending the University of Calgary.