When Maggie Altobelli was 20 weeks pregnant, she and her husband, Dom Altobelli, went in for an ultrasound to learn their baby’s gender—but what they discovered was completely unexpected.

As Maggie looked at the screen, she paused in disbelief… “Oh my God, are those two babies?” Even the technicians were surprised and advised her to see a specialist.

Later, the doctor told the Altobelli couple this was something extremely rare. “The two babies aren’t just twins—their bodies are connected at the abdomen.” The couple had so many questions: “How is that even possible…?”

Although it was shocking and far from what they imagined, they chose to hold on to faith and hope.

Maggie initially thought, “Okay, then we’ll find a way to separate them.” But she soon realized it would be a long and complex journey. Still, they were determined to do everything they could to give both girls a chance at healthy, full lives.

Soon after, they met specialist Dr. Holly Hedrick and continued testing. During this time, they named their daughters Hope and Faith.

The couple partnered with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), known for its experience with conjoined twins. Doctors explained that it was fortunate the girls did not share a heart—otherwise, separation would not be possible. They shared a liver and part of their chest, but doctors described it as a more favorable condition, though still very high risk.

To prepare, the family moved to Philadelphia. While separation gave them hope, the emotional weight was still overwhelming.

“It was a shock,” Maggie said. “But we believe there’s a purpose behind this.” Dom added, “At first, we were terrified… we just took it one day at a time.”

Despite the risks, they placed their trust in faith and the medical team. On November 18th, at 34 weeks, Maggie gave birth to Addison (Addy) and Lilianna (Lily) via C-section.

Before surgery, the girls needed time to grow stronger. Maggie and Dom focused on loving them and staying hopeful while doctors carefully prepared for the procedure.

The babies grew day by day. Doctors performed tissue expansion to create enough skin for reconstruction, as the girls shared part of their chest wall. This step was crucial for closing the body after separation.

Because they shared a rib cage, breathing was sometimes difficult. Lily, being slightly stronger, would occasionally affect Addison’s breathing, making close monitoring essential.

Addison also needed extra nutrition to help her grow stronger. Finally, on October 13th, the girls underwent a 10-hour separation surgery.

One of the most complex parts was separating their shared liver. Doctors used advanced 3D models and imaging to guide every step and ensure both organs would function properly after surgery.

At 2:38 p.m., the surgery was successful.

When Maggie heard the news, she broke down in tears. “Our whole family cried—it was pure joy,” she said.

“It felt unreal. We stayed calm and trusted the process the entire time,” Maggie shared. “We’re so grateful for the doctors who cared for our girls like their own.”

By December 1st, the family returned home to Chicago. Today, Lily and Addy are growing, smiling, and enjoying life side by side.

“They still love being close,” Dom said. “They reach for each other, hold hands, and smile.”

The girls are now in therapy, learning new skills and exploring the world like other children.

“This journey is incredibly special,” Maggie said. “Seeing them grow up healthy… it’s something we once only dreamed of.”

“Even now, I still tear up watching them sit together and enjoy simple moments. It means everything.”