Conjoined Twins Abby and Erin Delaney: A Remarkable Journey of Survival and Resilience
In rare moments, life presents stories that feel nothing short of miraculous. Such is the case of Abby and Erin Delaney, conjoined twins born in 2016 joined at the head, whose journey from a precarious start to thriving nine years later is a testament to courage, medical innovation, and unwavering parental devotion.
When Heather Delaney and her partner Riley learned they were expecting, the news of twins was already life-changing. But the couple faced an unimaginable revelation: their daughters’ heads were conjoined. “We were stunned,” Heather recalled. “It was awful. But we knew in that moment we would go through the pregnancy no matter what. I just didn’t think it was my place to decide if they lived or died.”
Conjoined twins, while more common than many realize, carry a staggering mortality rate. Among identical twins, roughly 1 in 200 pregnancies result in conjoined twins, yet only 18% survive to birth. Abby and Erin defied the odds when they were delivered via C-section on July 24, 2016, weighing just two pounds.
The twins spent their first 485 days at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where doctors prepared them for a complex and life-saving separation surgery. Abby and Erin were craniopagus twins — joined at the top of the skull — making their case one of the most challenging.
In June 2017, a team of 30 medical professionals undertook the 11-hour operation. The procedure required unprecedented planning and innovative techniques to reconfigure the girls’ skulls and tissue. The surgery was a success, though Abby faced minor complications with her sinuses. The procedure was so groundbreaking that the lead surgeons later published their findings in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Post-surgery, the twins’ recovery was remarkable. Thanks to the pioneering surgical techniques, Abby and Erin could begin to lead relatively normal lives. Over the following years, they underwent additional surgeries, including skull reconstruction and plastic surgery, to ensure long-term health and development. While Abby healed quickly, Erin faced a more challenging recovery, requiring ongoing care and therapy.
Heather Delaney has chronicled the twins’ progress through a blog and social media updates, providing an intimate look at the ups and downs of raising children with complex medical histories. In 2024, the family faced another challenge when both girls were diagnosed with autism. “There is such a stigma around those who are autistic and it scares me for the girls’ future,” Heather wrote. “They already have so much going on and to be autistic as well is just hard… I know the girls are still who they are and we still love them just as much if not more than we did yesterday.”
Despite these hurdles, the girls have continued to thrive. Abby is steadily learning to walk, while Erin is running, climbing stairs, and growing stronger each day. As they turned nine in 2025, Heather reflected on their journey: “We are so proud of the girls, and how far they have come, and where they are going. Not once have we wished things were different because we love our girls for just the way they are.”
Abby and Erin Delaney’s story is not just one of medical triumph but of resilience, familial love, and hope. Their parents’ unwavering support and advocacy have been integral to the girls’ remarkable progress, making their journey an inspiration to countless families around the world.
From a risky birth with a slim chance of survival to thriving children celebrated by their devoted parents, Abby and Erin Delaney are living reminders that perseverance, love, and cutting-edge medicine can together create miracles.
