Patient Stories
Inside the Successful Separation Surgery of Conjoined Twins: “We Are So Grateful!”
![Alusine and Isatu Jalloh and their parents](https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/conjoined.jpg?itok=ddze3VnF 200w, https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/conjoined.jpg?itok=zufD98Dk 260w, https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/conjoined.jpg?itok=1_wxkLIn 320w, https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/conjoined.jpg?itok=OvJJG-fw 400w, https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/conjoined.jpg?itok=dR_vcdG8 520w, https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/conjoined.jpg?itok=l3mWLwWl 640w, https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/conjoined.jpg?itok=Mx44AmSM 800w, https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/conjoined.jpg?itok=GSY1IeCs 1040w, https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/conjoined.jpg?itok=UhQ5k8nJ 1280w, https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/conjoined.jpg?itok=b_FgW8a5 1600w)
Alusine and Isatu Jalloh traveled 4,300 miles from home to give their girls the chance for a better life. Nine days before the coronavirus outbreak hit New York City, a team of leading surgeons and specialists successfully separated the conjoined twins at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital. Here’s the story of the girls' remarkable recovery.
A Mom Donates Her Kidney to Save Her Daughter’s Life
![lauren shield with her daugher](https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/lauren-shields-hero.jpeg?itok=DMoOgXr1 200w, https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/lauren-shields-hero.jpeg?itok=ZwXW1mZH 260w, https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/lauren-shields-hero.jpeg?itok=Ggg9QUz9 320w, https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/lauren-shields-hero.jpeg?itok=u6cmYO3i 400w, https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/lauren-shields-hero.jpeg?itok=VbVKSfBh 520w, https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/lauren-shields-hero.jpeg?itok=jzTgaqeM 640w, https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/lauren-shields-hero.jpeg?itok=1vUvq4_y 800w, https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/lauren-shields-hero.jpeg?itok=vMplkrD0 1040w, https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/lauren-shields-hero.jpeg?itok=7KMVu--1 1280w, https://www.columbiadoctors.org/childrens-health/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600_16_9/public/media/images/2023-11/lauren-shields-hero.jpeg?itok=DR3d40LX 1600w)
When Lauren Shields underwent a heart transplant at age 8, her mother, Jeanne, never left her side. When Lauren needed a kidney transplant 12 years later, Jeanne calls her decision to become a donor a “no-brainer.”