AUGUSTA, GA (11/12) (PR) — The conjoined twins receiving treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit at Children’s Hospital of Georgia died last night due to multiple complex medical complications. The boys—who shared a heart and liver—were delivered by C-section on Monday at the Georgia Regents Medical Center and remained in critical condition in the NICU in the adjoining children’s hospital for two days.
The boys’ mother Brittany Crafton is in good condition and the family has requested the media and public to respect their privacy during this time of bereavement.
Grandmother
AUGUSTA, GA (11/11) — The grandmother of conjoined twins born Monday, Nov. 9, at Georgia Regents Medical Center shared brief thoughts about the boys.
“We just thank God for all of this, because it is His purpose and His will,” Bernice Crafton said of grandsons Chance and Chandler who share a heart and liver.
The boys – delivered by C-section – remain in critical condition in the neonatal intensive care unit at Children’s Hospital of Georgia, while their mother Brittany, who is in good condition, recovers at the adjoining medical center.
Bernice Crafton said that Brittany is in good spirits.
“She’s spending a lot of time with the babies and enjoying that process of motherhood. She has been amazing.”
Conjoined twins occur only about once in every 60,000 births. This is the first set delivered at the academic health center in Augusta.
The level 4 NICU at CHOG provides the highest level of critical care for babies.
Mom gives birth to conjoined twins in Augusta
AUGUSTA, GA (11/9) – Conjoined twins sharing a heart and liver were born today at Georgia Regents Medical Center by C-section. The boys were taken to the neonatal intensive care unit at the adjoining Children’s Hospital of Georgia where they are listed in critical condition.
The boys’ mother Brittany Crafton is in good condition and is recovering at the medical center.
This is the first set of conjoined twins delivered at the academic health center in Augusta. Conjoined twins occur only about one time in every 60,000 births.
The 154-bed Children’s Hospital of Georgia is the second-largest children’s hospital in the state and was recently ranked number one in the nation for quality and safety by the UHC. The level 4 NICU at CHOG provides the highest level of neonatal critical care as defined by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Pregnancy
AUGUSTA, GA (11/2) - Brittany Crafton was excited the moment her doctor told her she was pregnant. However, a sonogram during her second checkup revealed both good and not-so-good news – she was expecting twins, but they were joined at the chest.
“I knew something had to be different when the ultrasound took longer than expected. The news of them being conjoined was truly surreal,” said Crafton, 26, of Augusta.
Crafton is scheduled to deliver twin boys by C-section on Nov. 9 at Georgia Regents Medical Center. Dr. Paul Browne, section chief of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Georgia Regents University and Health System, says the boys, whom Crafton has already named Chandler and Chance, share a heart and liver, but their prognosis for survival is good.
“We have tools that help us predict children’s chances of survival, but most of that depends upon the heart,” Browne said. “What makes this case special, is that the heart the twins share is quite normal and has been functioning very well for them. So, we believe it will continue to function well after the delivery.”
As of now, the babies only suffer from birth defects common to conjoined twins, including clubfoot, and one of the twins has a dislocated hip. However, the boys will still undergo a battery of tests immediately following the delivery to check for other medical conditions.
Conjoined twins are rare, occurring only about one time in every 60,000 births, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. This is the first set of conjoined twins delivered at GRHealth.
Although Crafton has not experienced any medical complications during her pregnancy, she says this experience has been a life class and that her faith in God has sustained her through it all.
“I know God’s got me, and He’ll continue to be with me even after the twins are born,” Crafton said. “This experience has helped me to look at ‘different’ people differently, and I have gained a real compassion for what they go through.”
Crafton, a hairstylist, has not decided if or when to separate the twins. For now, she and her family are trying to figure out how they will finance the expensive post-delivery care the twins will require, including medical and rehabilitation costs, as well as the purchase of specialized cribs, car seats and clothing.
To that end, a GoFundMe site has been established to assist Crafton and her sons. To learn more or contribute, visit https://www.gofundme.com/2smiles1heart
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