Frightened Parents 'Give It To God' As Conjoined Twins Are Separated In 10-Hour Surgery
March 11, 2022

Addy and Lily Altobelli are conjoined twins that were separated in a risky 10-hour surgery just months after their birth. Now, their parents are opening up about trusting God through the terrifying journey.
The parents of the conjoined twins that were separated, Maggie and Dom Altobelli, faced so much uncertainty with their baby girls. Questions with no sure answers riddled the couple from the moment they learned a shared stomach joined Addy and Lily together.
RELATED: 8-Day-Old Conjoined Twins Are Youngest Ever To Be Separated
So, Maggie and Dom did the best thing they could do. They surrendered it all to the Lord and relied on God to see them through the entire process. And He did just that!
Doctor Makes Shocking Discovery
At her 20-week pregnancy check-up, Maggie expected to discover the gender of her baby -- singular. But to her surprise, she found out she would give birth to twin girls.
However, Maggie was in for a much bigger shock when the ultrasound revealed something her doctor had never before seen. She was carrying conjoined twins.
"Their little stomachs are connected," her doctor declared.
The couple never anticipated a situation like this. But they chose to trust God's plan even if it looked different from theirs.
“It was a surprise and it was very shocking,” Maggie said. “But, we just thought that God gave us these girls for a reason.”
The couple agreed to have the conjoined twins separated after their birth. This meant leaving their home in Chicago and working with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) since the doctors there had experience in separating conjoined twins. But neither Maggie nor Dom fully comprehended the long and difficult road that lay ahead.
Preparing For Separation
First came a battery of tests to see if the separation was even possible. If the babies shared a heart, doctors wouldn't even be able to try. Even once doctors confirmed they could attempt a separation surgery with the conjoined twins, they warned Maggie and Dom Altobelli it would be very risky.
“They said, ‘Yes, this is a favorable situation. It’s still a very high-risk delivery and surgery,’” Maggie recalled.
It was terrifying to have no sense of what was going to happen to their baby girls. But Maggie and Dom decided to take it a "step at a time" and trust God. In fact, they nicknamed their conjoined twins Faith and Hope during the pregnancy.
RELATED: Parents of 9-Month-Old Twins Conjoined at the Head Praise God After They Are Separated
At 34-weeks, Maggie delivered Addy and Lily Altobelli. And though the birth of the girls overjoyed Maggie and Dom, the conjoined twins immediately began facing complications.
Because the girls shared a chest, when Lily, the larger twin, got upset, it created breathing problems for Addy.
“If Lily got upset … she would (control) the breathing,” Maggie explained. “There were times where Addy had coded because she couldn’t breathe because Lily would get upset.”
Before the conjoined twins could be separated, they needed time to grow and receive treatments preparing them for their upcoming surgery. And all Maggie and Dom could really do, aside from loving on their babies, was pray for a positive outcome while allowing the doctors to take over.
Addy And Lily Altobelli Undergo Surgery
Not long before the conjoined twins turned one, the day finally arrived to have them separated. And though so many things could go wrong, Maggie and Dom fully surrendered to God's will.
“It was very surreal, just very emotional. The whole day was very peaceful and we kind of just gave it to God — and we’ve done that throughout this whole journey,” Maggie Altobelli recalled. “We’re just so lucky to have surgeons who know what they’re doing and really worked hard and cared for our girls like they were their own.”
RELATED: Conjoined Twins Abby And Brittany Awed Folks Years Ago But Now, They’re Just As Inspiring
The intense procedure took doctors 10 hours to perform, with Maggie and Dom getting updates every two hours. Then, finally, they received word the operation was successful and complete.
"I just fell to the floor," Maggie said. "Everybody was just crying and sobbing. There was so much joy."
Conjoined Twins That Were Separated Go Home
Addy and Lily Altobelli spent the next two months in the hospital recovering until given the green light for release. At last, the conjoined twins that were separated headed home to Chicago with their parents.
"We're so happy that they're home. It's just amazing," Maggie said. She went on to explain,
"I still cry to this day, just seeing the girls sitting in the living room and watching Frozen or any Disney movie. Because it's just that thing that you always hope for and imagine, and it's really indescribable. I can't describe how amazing it is."
The babies continue to receive multiple types of therapy -- physical, occupational, and speech. And though they currently use feeding tubes, they are practicing eating on their own. And after enduring and overcoming so many challenges, their futures are bright.
“This is our journey. It’s a very special one in many ways,” explained Maggie Altobelli. “These girls are going to live long, healthy lives. It’s pretty miraculous and unbelievable that we’re living this life.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Story Of Rare Triplet Pregnancy Where Mom Got Pregnant While Already Pregnant With Twins
Finding peace in the storm isn't easy. But if we can surrender our hearts to God's will, just as we see with these conjoined twins that were separated, there is no situation He can't use for good!
WATCH: Conjoined Twins That Were Separated Thrive After Surgery
LISTEN: 1 of Colton Dixon’s Twins Was Born Without a Pulse And the Christian Singer Cried Out to God | Rich Man Learns He’s Valued The Wrong Things When ‘Wife’ Refuses To Help Him On His Deathbed
h/t: NBC News
Featured Image Credit: Youtube/TODAY | Facebook/Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Mel is the senior writer for GodUpdates, finding, writing and sharing Christian, uplifting, and health-related stories from around the world. Mel has a passion for writing and graduated with a degree in English from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. When she’s not researching and writing stories, Mel is very active in her church. You can usually find Mel playing board games with her husband and two young girls, giving someone a hug, or hunting down a good cup of coffee!
Today's Devotional
A Valentine’s Day Prayer to Cultivate a Tender Heart toward God - Your Daily Prayer - February 14
Here are four ways to help cultivate a tender heart towards God this Valentine's Day.
Today's Devotional
A Valentine’s Day Prayer to Cultivate a Tender Heart toward God - Your Daily Prayer - February 14
Here are four ways to help cultivate a tender heart towards God this Valentine's Day.
Past Stories
- Mom Receives a Heartwarming Message From Best Friend After Son is Diagnosed With Autism
- Retired Army Medic Pays For Stranger's Breakfast and Leaves a Heartfelt Note
- Golden Retriever Saved by Lifeboat Crew After Running Into the Ocean After a Scare
- 10-Year-Old Boy is in Recovery After Being Struck by Plane Debris While Protecting Little Sister
- Car Accident on First Date Night Without Kids in a Year, Reminds Couple That God is in Control
- Teen Wasn't Given Much of a Chance to Live After Car Crash, But Now Celebrating Her 16th Birthday
- Girl Who Died Before the 6th Grade Still Inspires Others With Her Message of 'Love is Everywhere'
- Beloved Young College Student Remembered by Fellow Students After DC Plane Crash
- Stranger Jumps Into Frozen Pond in South Carolina to Save 3-Year-Old Girl
- Man Saves 83-Year-Old Father-in-Law With Parkinson's From the LA Fires in Pacific Palisades
- Woman Felt Like She Was in a Movie When Giving Birth in a Krispy Kreme Parking Lot
- Walmart Employee Coach Justin Helps Mom and Autistic Child During Meltdown
- Woman Who Found an Old Family Photo After LA Fires Makes a Special Connection
- Teenager Who Finds Money at Restaurant, Doesn't Think Twice About Returning it to Owner
- World War Two Veteran Starts Over at 104 After Losing Home in Palisades Fire
- Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards' Daughter Lola Was Baptized After a Very Difficult Time
- Her 91-Year-Old Grandmother Is Besties With Her Husband and the Relationship Is Beyond Cute
- New Jersey High School Basketball Star Keeps Playing Through Cancer Diagnosis
- Dad Whose Daughter Died After Transplant Gives Kidney to Another Little Girl
- Musician is Reunited With Letterman Jacket, 30 Years After Ordering It Back in High School
- Twin Brothers Both Pop the Question Just Days Apart, Without Planning to Do So
- Girl Scout Saves Her Dad's Life Just 11 Days After Learning CPR
- This 100 Year Old Kentucky Centenarian Works At Home Depot, Offering Great Tips For a Long Life
- Woman Married 82 Years Has a Very Special Disney-Themed 100th Birthday Party
- Man Discovers 46 Year Old Christmas Present in the Wall of His Childhood Home
- 4 Year Old Twin Girls Are Heroes After Finding Retired Police Officers Wallet
- Her Cat Was Missing For 7 Years, But She Finally Came Back Home
- Delta Held a Plane So a Daughter Could Have One Last Goodbye With Her Dying Mother
- Even Through Dementia One Special Phrase Kept a Grandmother Connected to Her Husband
- Mom, Dad, and 6-Year-Old Daughter Are Heroes After Rescuing Woman From Overturned Car
- Couple Receive the Biggest Surprise Blessing After Cervical Cancer Diagnosis
- Old English Sheepdog Who Appears to Have Special Powers, Receives an Award
- 49 Years Later Daughter is Reunited With Birth Mother and Other Family After Taking DNA Test
- 22 Family Members Surprise Grandparents With a Fun Family Sleepover
- Scared Doodle Rescued From Thin Frozen New Jersey Lake With Help From Neighbors Drone
- Woman Caught in a Riptide is Saved by Fisherman's Hook
- Couple Finds Lost Ring In a Snowy Wonderland During Engagement Photo Shoot
- Jimmy Carter, 39th President, Passes Away at 100, Leaving Behind a Legacy of Service
- Kimberly Williams-Paisley Talks About Getting Her Voice Back After Losing It Two Years Ago
- 90-Year-Old From Oklahoma Is Rewarded For Going Out of His Way to Help Others
- Husband Decorates His Neighbors' Homes For Wife Who Loves Christmas
- Couple Befriend Older Neighbor After Hearing Music Coming From His Apartment
- California Man Carpools With Adult Children On His Very Last Day of Work Before Retirement
- Family of Three Grows To Seven Overnight With Birth of Quadruplets
- The World's Oldest Dog Spike the Chihuahua Turns 25 Years Old
- Christmas Tree Planted Back in 1979 Inspires and Unites a Small English Village
- Dick Van Dyke Turns 99 After Evacuating From a Wildfire and Welcoming His Lost Cat Back Home
- Santa and Mrs.Claus Continue to Spread Christmas Magic Even With Santa's MS Diagnosis
- Little Girl Gets a Big Elf On the Shelf Surprise Honoring the Little Brother Who Passed Away
Top Music Videos

Riley Clemmons Riley Clemmons 'Jesus Cries' Official Music Video

Anne Wilson Anne Wilson Captivates with Heartfelt 'My Jesus' Live Performance

Chris Tomlin Chris Tomlin - It Is Well

toby mac TobyMac’ ‘God Did It’ Official Lyric Video

Anne Wilson Anne Wilson 'The Cross' Powerful Lyric Video
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.