Less than three months after being separated from her twin sister in a 26-hour operation at Texas Children’s Hospital, Knatalye Hope Mata was released to the care of her family.
Knatalye was discharged from the hospital on May 8, just in time for Mother’s Day. Her family lives in Lubbock but will remain in Houston until Knatalye’s sister, Adeline Faith, is able to go home. Doctors anticipate that homecoming to be within the next few months.
Formerly conjoined twins Knatalye and Adeline were born at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women on April 11, 2014 via Caesarean-section at 31 weeks gestation after weeks of extensive prenatal imaging, multidisciplinary consultation and planning at Texas Children’s Fetal Center.
Surgeons allowed the girls to grow and gain strength for 10 months before undertaking the difficult task of separating them. During the procedure, the surgical team worked in shifts to separate the twins, who shared a chest wall, pericardial sac, diaphragm, liver, intestines, bladder, uterus and pelvis. Since then, Knatalye and Adeline have been healing quickly and are continuing to progress well as two little girls.
Many of their caregivers, including Dr. Darrell Cass, lead surgeon and co-director of Texas Children’s Fetal Center, and Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye, lead surgeon and co-director of the Texas Fetal Center, came by Knatalye’s room last week to bid her farewell.
Smiles and hugs were exchanged before the 1-year-old was strapped into a car seat in the back of her family’s SUV. Shortly afterward, Knatalye left the only place she has ever known. Although she will be back for follow-up care, Texas Children’s is no longer her primary home. It’s her home away from home, which is exactly what everyone hoped it would become.
