Operation teaches us about conjoined twins

In a remarkable surgical effort, doctors and their many assistants recently separated conjoined twins at the University of California Los Angeles Medical Center. In the process, many of us got a good education.

For example, we have learned that approximately 200 pairs of conjoined twins are born alive each year. Half die before their first birthday. Surgical separations are rare. Most are joined at the chest. Only about 4 percent are joined at the head. The rest are joined at the abdomen or pelvis. About 70 percent are female.

Because conjoined twins share tissue, blood vessels and bone, separation is all but impossible in most cases. But the 1-year-old Guatemalan twins, the nearly day-long operation in California guardedly appears to be a success.

Just as inspirational is the story from Pennsylvania of 40-year-old conjoined twins who lead active lives. One of the twins has spina bifida and must be wheeled around by her sister -- who wants to pursue a country-music career in Nashville. She has performed her own song, "The Fear of Being Alone," in Atlantic City, Japan and Germany.

All we can say is the best of luck -- to the newly separated twins and to Reba and Lori Schappell.