In the summer of 2020, Maggie and Dom Altobelli were overjoyed to discover they were expecting twins. But their excitement quickly gave way to fear when doctors shared news no parent is prepared to hear: the babies were conjoined, a rare condition known as thoraco-omphalopagus, meaning the girls would be born fused at the chest and abdomen, sharing several vital organs.
For Maggie and Dom, everything changed in an instant. But so did their resolve. They were determined to give their daughters — Addison and Lilianna — every chance at life.
On November 18, 2020, the girls arrived into the world at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, one of the only places in the country equipped to handle such a delicate and risky case. The Altobellis uprooted their lives, relocating to be closer to the medical team that would become part of their extended family.
For the first year of their lives, Addie and Lily lived in intensive care, their tiny bodies joined at the liver, diaphragm, rib cage, and abdominal wall. The path ahead was uncertain. Every decision carried the weight of two lives. But the team of surgeons, nurses, and specialists spent months carefully planning — and on the girls’ first birthday, they made history.
The separation surgery took place exactly one year after their birth. It lasted hours. It required precision, courage, and faith. And when it was over, Addison and Lilianna finally had what every child deserves — the chance to live as individuals.
Recovery wasn’t easy. Both girls required tracheostomy tubes to help them breathe, and they faced months of therapy and close monitoring. But their resilience was nothing short of extraordinary. In no time, they were crawling, then walking, their steps full of determination and curiosity.
Today, nearly four years later, Addie and Lily are thriving — active, playful, and full of personality. They laugh. They dance. They dream.
Their journey has been anything but typical, but with the unwavering love of their parents, the brilliance of their doctors, and their own incredible spirit, they’ve overcome odds that once seemed insurmountable.
Two little girls, one unforgettable story — and a reminder that sometimes, the impossible is just the beginning. 🌈💖
