History Made: We Celebrate the Anniversary of the Successful Separation of AmieLynn and JamieLynn
One year ago, a team of 25 surgeons and other medical experts made history at Cook Children’s. Twin sisters AmieLynn and JamieLynn Finley were born conjoined at the chest and sharing a liver.
On Jan. 23, 2023, the twin girls were separated during an 11-hour operation, the first of its kind at Cook Children’s. Jamie Lynn went home in March, and AmieLynn was discharged a month later after some additional recovery IN the NICU.
“The success of the conjoined twin surgery inspired a level of hope and joy that surpassed anyone’s expectation The way the organization and the community, as well as many in the nation, were able to hear the story beginning at the separation procedure was so powerful, said Valerie Gibbs, DNP, RN, CPN Director Perioperative Services – Surgical at Cook Children’s Medical Center. “No matter the role, everyone felt, and continues to feel, invested in the lives of these twins. For the surgical team, this is a new standard; not just in departmental teamwork but also for interdisciplinary collaboration to achieve success in challenging scenarios. The pride that the surgery team feels for the honor of this opportunity remains palpable even a year later.”
The success of the operation has brought the team international recognition, most lately they were recognized on the final day of the Texas Hospital Association’s 12 Days of Health Care Heroes.
“While the surgery itself was heroic, the team’s work together began months before the birth of JamieLynn and Amie Lynn Finley and their arrival at Cook Children’s NICU soon after. This team worked in lockstep to provide the innovative care the girls required to support their unique growth and development needs, and to orchestrate the complicated 11-hour separation surgery. Thanks to their imagination, skill and collaboration, today, the Finley sisters are their lives together, but separate,” THA wrote.
While a year has passed, we will never forget the team that made history.
“With so many steps in their journey, it reminds us how big and how great our Cook Children’s family is to help them achieve milestone after milestone,” said José Iglesias, M.D, lead surgeon.
As we did a year ago, we want to recognize the incredible team that made last year's landmark surgery a success. This team collaborated together to perform the first separation of conjoined twins, JamieLynn and AmieLynn, in our history. Be sure to let them know you are proud of them.
- Chandra Reynolds, M.D., lead anesthesiologist
- Cole Carrillo, CRNA, lead CRNA
Team A (JamieLynn)
- Jose Iglesias, M.D., primary surgeon
- Daniel Lodwick, M.D., first assistant
- Ben Gbulie, M.D., plastic surgeon
- Syma Monzales, RN, Coordinator
- Sarah Shaabani, RN
- Darrell Wortham, CST
- Claudia Hernandez, CST
- Imad Yamout, M.D., anesthesiologist
- Michael Gonzalez, CRNA
- Raul Guerrero, anesthesia technician
Team B (Amie Lynn
- Marty Knott, D.O., primary surgeon
- Chad Hamner, M.D., first assistant
- Eric Hubli, M.D., plastic surgeon
- Sarah Doyle, RN, coordinator
- Kristen Cherry, RN
- Brittney Fuentes, CST
- Tania Gonzales, CST
- Dr. Gavin Fine, M.D., anesthesiologist
- Paul Downing, CRNA
- Daniel Jones, anesthesia technician
Team C (backup on standby)
- Hailey Hanson, RN
- Jamie Gomez, RN
- Rosa Leos, RNFA
- Diana Bravo, CST
Neonatologists
- Chad Barber, M.D.
- Mary Frances Lynch, M.D.
- ‘We Did It’: Conjoined Twin Girls Separated at Cook Children’s Medical Center Make History
- Q&A: Inside the Historic Conjoined Twin Separation Surgery with Jose Iglesias, M.D.
- Q&A with Marty Knott, D.O., Ph.D.: AmieLynn’s Primary Surgeon
- NICU Nurses Adapt for Unique Needs of Twins JamieLynn and AmieLynn Prior to Separation - Twins AmieLynn and JamieLynn Finley won the hearts of the nurses who fed, diapered and bathed the girls a little differently from other babies in the Cook Children’s NICU
- Surgeon-In-Chief Looks at Milestone Moments that Led to History-Making Surgery
- 'A Ray of Hope': Meet Ben Gbulie, M.D., FACS, AmieLynn and Jamie Lynn's Plastic Surgeon - Ben Gbulie, M.D., FACS, is a board-certified General Surgeon, board-certified Plastic Surgeon as well as a Pediatric and Craniofacial Plastic Surgeon. He cared for the twins even before they were born.
- Formerly-Conjoined Twin JamieLynn Discharged from Cook Children's NICU, Sister AmieLynn Stays to Recover - While Jamie is heading home to start this new chapter, Amie remains in Cook Children’s NICU. She is continuing to recover from a recent surgery.
- Formerly-Conjoined Twin AmieLynn Discharged, Joins JamieLynn and Family at Home
- Fort Worth Magazine: The Separation of AmieLynn and JamieLynn
- 'JamieLynn and AmieLynn Finley Day' Proclaimed in Tarrant County - The Tarrant County Commissioners Court proclaimed Jan. 23, 2023, as JamieLynn and AmieLynn Finley Day during Tuesday's meeting.