Woman Reunites with Surgeons Decades After Historic Conjoined Twin Surgery

Forty years after pioneering surgery separated her from her conjoined twin, Holly Queiroz had an emotional virtual reunion with the surgeons who changed her life. In 1985, Jill Reich welcomed twins Holly and Carly, who were connected from their breastbones down to their belly buttons. A team of 26 medical professionals, led by pediatric surgeons Lewis Spitz and Edward Kiely, undertook an intensive nine-hour operation at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, successfully separating the infants. Tragically, Carly succumbed to heart complications approximately six weeks after the operation, while Holly remained at the hospital for another year, undergoing ten additional surgeries.

Now nearly 40 years old and residing in Texas, Holly Queiroz maintained contact over the years with Professor Spitz, even attending his retirement ceremony back in 2004. Recently, ahead of her milestone birthday, Queiroz was delighted to reconnect with both Spitz and Kiely through a video call—her first conversation with Kiely in two decades. During this heartfelt virtual reunion, both surgeons warmly wished her a happy birthday, a moment Queiroz cherished deeply.

Expressing her deep gratitude, Queiroz reflected on the incredible impact the surgical team's actions had, not just on herself but on subsequent medical advancements. She emphasized the courageous and supportive role played by her parents, acknowledging how Great Ormond Street Hospital had become like extended family during their lengthy stay. Queiroz offered a profound thank you to Spitz and Kiely, attributing her entire life and her successes to their groundbreaking work and dedication.

Since Holly and Carly's surgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital has gone on to care for 43 sets of conjoined twins, believed to be the most of any single hospital worldwide. Looking back at their pioneering operation, Professor Spitz described the significant challenges they faced, emphasizing the limited medical imaging capabilities at that time, which meant they largely had to proceed without clear pre-operative visuals. Spitz spoke of pride in seeing former patients thriving years later.

Mr Kiely highlighted that while the surgery was groundbreaking, it was one of several major operations they were accustomed to performing, although they felt keenly aware of the great responsibility. He noted the developments in anesthesia and intensive care as transformative over the decades since the twins' surgery. Both surgeons reflected fondly on their long careers working at the renowned hospital, aiming always to enhance the prospects of children's lives into adulthood.