Conjoined twin sisters separated in successful surgery

Fort Worth, Texas

A Texas hospital says it has successfully performed its first-ever separation surgery for conjoined twins.

This week, representatives with the Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth announced the successful operation involving twin sisters AmieLynn Rose and JamieLynn Rae Finley to parents Amanda Arciniega and James Finley.

According to the hospital, the 11-hour-long surgery happened on Monday was conducted by a team of 25 medical professionals and six surgeons.

Hospital representatives said AmieLynn and JamieLynn are currently recovering well after the operation.

“The separation surgery will give AmieLynn and JamieLynn better opportunities to improve their health and development, and to grow as the unique, individual little girls that they have been since birth, regardless of their physical connection as conjoined twins,” said Dr. Jose L. Iglesias, lead surgeon for the twins’ surgery.

Conjoined twins are rare; the hospital estimates it occurs in one out of every 200,000 live births, with five to eight conjoined twins worldwide surviving the first few days after birth.

“I would not have thought in a million years that I would have twins,” Arciniega said. “And then conjoined twins on top of that.”

JamieLynn and AmieLynn are omphalopagus twins, which means they were joined at the abdomen and shared one or more internal organs.

According to the hospital, the girls were born prematurely on Oct. 3, 2022. They were joined from the lower part of the breastbone to their belly button and shared a liver.

Representatives of the hospital said its team worked to improve the girls’ health, growth, and development while preparing them for the surgery.

The Cook Children’s Medical Center said a team dedicated months to planning and collaborating for the twins’ surgery and ran through multiple simulations of the operation.

“AmieLynn and JamieLynn’s growth and development was at the right time for them to have the surgery,” said Dr. Mary Frances Lynch, a neonatologist at Cook Children’s Medical Center. “Separation now will benefit AmieLynn and JamieLynn by allowing them to continue reaching important growth and development milestones in their individual health journeys.”

According to the hospital, the surgical team also included three anesthesiologists, four pediatric surgeons, two plastic surgeons and 18 other clinical professionals. They were separated into two teams, one for each girl, and worked together until the babies were separated.

“We did it. I don’t know what I did, but we did it,” Finley, the twins’ father, said. “It takes a lot of pressure and anxiety off when you know your kid is going to be taken care of.”

In the coming weeks and months, hospital representatives said AmieLynn and JamieLynn will continue to receive care from Cook Children’s Medical Center’s neonatology and NICU teams, focusing on their healing and continued growth and development.

“I’m very hopeful that they’re going to have a good recovery and lead healthy lives in the future,” Dr. Iglesias said. “They’re going to have a bit of a ramp up from the recovery, but I think they’re going to be able to get there eventually, and very close to normal if not completely normal.”

‘Incredible’: Animal shelter helps reunite owner with abandoned dog

Chattanooga, Tenn.

An animal shelter in Tennessee says a dog owner has been reunited with her abandoned pet.

On Wednesday, the McKamey Animal Center said thanks to the help of the Chattanooga community, it has been able to reunite the two while also getting assistance for them to stay together.

The shelter called the update “incredible” and thanked everyone who helped in the matter.

Earlier this week, the animal center wrote a public social media post to find the dog’s owner who abandoned the pet.

Representatives with the shelter said the owner abandoned the animal due to experiencing homelessness and not being able to afford the pet anymore.

The animal center shared “A Note To Lilo’s Mom” on its Facebook page to let the dog’s owner know that her pet was safe after a good Samaritan found the animal wandering on a leash.

The Facebook post included a handwritten letter from the owner, who explained why she abandoned Lilo.

“Please keep my name. My name is Lilo. Please love me. My mom can’t keep me and is homeless with two kids. She tried her best but can’t get help. I cost too much for her. She really loves me, and I’m a great dog and love to be loved on. Please don’t abuse me,” the letter said.

Representatives with the McKamey Animal Center said they published the note along with a photo of Lilo in an effort to reunite the owner with her dog once again.

“If you are reading this, we hope you will come forward to reclaim her,” the shelter previously said. “We will help you with whatever you need to care for her, to the best of our ability. Lilo definitely misses you, and we would like nothing more than to see her go back to the family she loves.”

The animal center said it would share further information on the reunion when available and it has been “amazed at the outpouring of support.”

‘I can’t believe I won’: Man wins $1M lottery prize after being cut in line

Delray Beach, Fla.

Lottery officials in Florida say a man was rewarded with a million-dollar prize after keeping his cool in line.

According to the Florida Lottery, Stephen Munoz Espinoza, 43, of Delray Beach, recently won the $1 million prize from the 500X The Cash scratch-off game.

Espinoza said he kept his emotions in check the day he bought the ticket despite someone cutting in front of him while in line.

“It was the end of a long day, and I was tired. I stopped at Publix and was about to buy a ticket at the machine when a man cut right in front of me,” Espinoza told lottery officials.

The lucky winner said instead of saying something, he decided to just buy a ticket at the counter.

And that ticket ended up being the million-dollar winner.

“I can’t believe I won a million dollars,” Espinoza said.

The 43-year-old said he plans to use some of the winnings to buy a home for his family.

On Wednesday, Espinoza collected his winnings at Florida Lottery headquarters. Officials said he chose to receive a one-time, lump-sum payment of $820,000.

According to the Florida Lottery, the winning ticket was purchased at a Publix grocery store on Northeast 5th Avenue in Delray Beach with the retailer receiving a $2,000 bonus commission.

‘I am honored’: Olympic superstar Simone Biles unveils new Wheaties box

Houston

Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and Wheaties have once again joined forces for a limited-edition box.

The world champion gymnast and Wheaties hosted a “Breakfast of Champions” event in Texas to debut the cereal box.

“I am honored to be featured on my second Wheaties box and grateful for the opportunity to highlight Friends of the Children, an extraordinary organization that is working to make sure other youth have access to mentors and the support to dream big in life,” Biles said.

According to a news release, the box celebrates Biles’ personal journey that has served as a catalyst for her continued support and advocacy for children in foster care, including her efforts with Friends of the Children that have helped the organization launch a new chapter - Friends of the Children–Houston.

“I hope my journey can be an example to all children that anything is possible, and I’m excited to help expand access to resources and mentorship in my hometown,” Biles said.

Biles was reportedly joined by family, friends, and others at the breakfast event where she shared her personal journey to help inspire those to not let life circumstances define who they are or deter them from pursuing their dreams.

The launch of Friends–Houston marks the national organization’s 29th location.

“Friends of the Children could not be more thrilled to announce the Houston chapter launch with Biles and the team at General Mills,” Terri Sorensen, CEO of Friends of the Children, said. “Their support was instrumental in bringing a chapter to Houston.”

Friends–Houston will reportedly begin identifying and welcoming children in the greater Houston area this year. The chapter said its initial focus will be on supporting children and families in the area who have been disproportionately impacted by foster care and other systemic issues.

“It is also such a meaningful moment for our organization and the youth we serve to be featured on the iconic Wheaties box alongside a true champion for youth,” Sorensen said.

Name a cockroach after your ex-partner for Valentine’s Day

Sometimes love is not in the air on Valentine’s Day, but some unique options are still available to celebrate the holiday.

According to the San Antonio Zoo, it is again offering its Cry Me a Cockroach Fundraiser back by popular demand.

Officials at the zoo said it is offering those interested a chance to name a cockroach, rodent, or veggie after their ex and watch it be fed to an animal.

For a donation of $5 to $25, those interested can name a cockroach after an ex-partner and receive a digital Valentine’s Day card along with sending the card to the ex letting them know that a roach has been named after them.

According to the zoo, the funds raised will support its vision of securing a future for wildlife in Texas and worldwide.

The Bronx Zoo said it is also offering a gift to the ex-partner with its Name a Roach for your Valentine event.

“You don’t always have the right words, but you can still give them goosebumps,” officials with the zoo shared.

The event offers options that range from $15 to $75 in which your ex can receive a tote bag or tumbler with a cockroach image to an original name-a-roach gift, complete with a digital certificate.

Additionally, the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy launched a Name-a-Roach Valentine’s Day special.

Zoo officials in Toronto said due to the overwhelming demand they have already reached capacity for requests while raising more than $15,000 in January.

These unique Valentine’s Day programs are scheduled to be open until Feb. 14.