Conjoined Dominican twins separated after marathon surgery

RICHMOND, Virginia. – The Dominican Siamese twins Maria Teresa and Teresa Maria were separated after a surgery lasting 24 hours, the Office of the First Lady announced Tuesday.

The operation began 5am Monday in Virginia Children’s Hospital and concluded 5am today, when anxiety gripped those present in one of the hospital’s salons.

The first lady Margarita Cedeño accompanied the twins mother Lisania Sanatis and their aunt Mary for several hours to await the results.

The medical team of 20 physicians, led by doctor David A. Lanning, carried out the surgery to separate the girls organ by organ.