Mom delivers conjoined twins, asks for prayers

AURORA, Colo. — The Minnesota woman who gave birth to conjoined twins Wednesday said one of her daughters has survived.

Amber McCullough, 31, delivered the twin girls by cesarean section Wednesday at the Colorado Fetal Care Center at Children's Hospital Colorado.

The twins — named Hannah and Olivia — shared an abdomen, liver and intestinal tract. The girls had separate hearts and kidneys.

As expected, Olivia did not survive long after being born. McCullough said her other daughter, Hannah, is now in critical condition.

"Keep the prayers coming, please, from you and from all you know," McCullough texted to KUSA-TV. "Hannah is fighting but really needs prayers to make it through the week."

Children's Hospital Colorado said it could not confirm that the birth had happened. They said their priority is to care for Hannah.

Prior to delivery, McCullough had said "I'm anxious and excited for Hannah and dreading what it means for Olivia."

The latest statistics reveal conjoined twins occur once in every 200,000 births. Forty percent to 60% of conjoined twins are stillborn, while 35% survive only one day.

Olivia was not expected to survive because of she only had a single ventricle and was missing valves.

McCullough, of Hastings, Minn., learned she was expecting one baby last winter. Shortly after her second trimester, she learned she was pregnant with conjoined twins.

McCullough, a U.S. Army Reserves captain and attorney serving victims of domestic violence, is a divorced single mother to a 6-year-old boy, Tristan.

McCullough said she entered a new relationship last fall, which led to an unplanned pregnancy.

In a message to KARE-TV in Minneapolis, McCullough said:

"I will not be getting into any other details until I am discharged and feeling up for it. But I would like everyone to know, and for the message to be read that Hannah did survive the surgery. However, she is very critical and very delicate. So what I would like is to appeal to as many people public for prayer. I believe in the power of prayer and the talent of medical professionals here. Could you please ask that the public pray as she waits for her life this week?"

Contributing: Dana Thiede, KARE-TV, Minneapolis-St. Paul; The Associated Press