A set of identical twins spent over half a year apart after birth after they were born at 30 weeks with health conditions.
Cora and Miller McCoy hadn’t seen each other for over 200 days after being born with conditions that required them to be treated in the NICU and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s (CHOA) Heart Center.
But when they finally reunited in CHOA’s Cardiac Intensive Care Unit for the first time.
In a photo from CHOA, the girls revealed that nothing could break their bond as they held hands.
“Cora and Miller know a thing or two about strength,” the hospital wrote on Instagram beside the photo.
“Between stays in the NICU and our Heart Center, the sisters hadn’t seen each other for more than 200 days. When they finally reunited… their instinctive hand hold left nary a dry eye in the room.”
Of those people who witnessed the emotional moment was the girls’ mama, Lindsey McCoy, who recalled to NBC affiliate WXIA, “This mama’s heart was bursting.”
The twins were reportedly diagnosed with twin anemia polycythemia sequence (TAPS), which is a rare form of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), and selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR) prior to their births at Northside Hospital in Atlanta.
(sIUGR) occurs with twins or multiple babies when their “vessel connections within the placenta are not evenly dispensed and there is an imbalance in the blood exchange between the twins,” according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
This happens “when the placenta is not evenly apportioned between the twins,” and can lead to one baby becoming malnourished, Johns Hopkins Medicine reported.
Cora weighed 3 lbs., 9 oz. while her sister Miller weighed just 15 oz., on the day she was born according to a video provided by Southern Living. Cora spent a total of 40 days in Northside’s NICU while Miller was moved to CHOA’s NICU, where she reunited with her sister before undergoing a heart procedure.
“It was the first time the girls had truly seen each other since they were born, and the first time all four of us were together in one room since the girls were just three weeks old,” Lindsey revealed to WXIA.
As Miller recovers from the heart procedure, the McCoy family says they’re hopeful the twins won’t be separated for much longer.
Mamas Uncut is THE online place for moms. We cover the latest about motherhood, parenting, and entertainment as well – all with a mom-focused twist. So if you're looking for parenting advice from real parents, we have plenty of it, all for moms from moms, and also experts. Because, at the end of the day, our mission is focused solely on empowering moms and moms-to-be with the knowledge and answers they’re looking for in one safe space.