Mom of conjoined twins holds son alone for first time after separation surgery

NEW YORK — Until this weekend, mom Nicole McDonald had never held her twin boys in the 13 months since their arrival. On Friday, she was finally able to hold her son, Jadon, following his separation from his brother, Anias.

Jadon and Anias were born conjoined at the tops of their heads. Because of their condition, Nicole was never able to hold her sons.

On Friday, she finally got that chance.

"For over 13 months, I've dreamed of this moment," Nicole wrote on Facebook, according to CNN. "I looked down at Jadon's angelic face and saw him in a way I'd never seen him before. He whimpered for almost the whole two hours I held him because he had just been extubated, had the area under his scalp washed out and had been weaned from the good pain meds."

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Before the surgery, if Nicole wanted to comfort Jadon, she would have to wrap her body around him in his hospital bed. Now, she can hold him in her arms.

Nicole’s husband, Christian McDonald, wasn’t at the hospital at the time, but says he’s glad Nicole got the moment she had been dreaming of with Jadon.

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She hasn’t been able to hold Anias yet, because his recovery process has been taking a bit longer, as doctors predicted.

Both boys are recovering well. Two weeks ago, they underwent a risky, 27-hour separation surgery at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. A GoFundMe page has raised more than $280,000 to help cover the family's medical costs. If you would like to donate, click here.

Cox Media Group