Subhechcha Ganguly 
Twin brothers Amari and Javar Ruffin, born conjoined, recently celebrated their first birthday following a successful separation surgery. The boys, who share parts of their sternum, diaphragm, abdominal wall, and liver, were delivered via cesarean section on September 29, 2023, weighing a total of 6 pounds. On August 21, a dedicated surgical team of over two dozen specialists at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia performed an eight-hour operation to separate the twins. Their abdomens were closed and reconstructed using layers of mesh and advanced plastic surgery techniques.
The boys returned home on October 8 to be with their parents, Tim and Shaneka, and their siblings, Kaylum and Anora.“Seeing them in their own beds was an indescribable feeling,” Shaneka Ruffin shared. “It feels like we are embarking on a new journey as a family of six. We are incredibly grateful to CHOP for making this day possible and allowing us to begin this next chapter.”
