SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 571
WHEREAS, A distinguished surgical team at Texas Children's
Hospital earned worldwide acclaim by successfully separating
conjoined twins on February 17, 2015; and
WHEREAS, An extraordinarily delicate procedure, the
separation took months of preparation; the twins, Knatalye and
Adeline Mata, shared several organ systems when they were born
prematurely in April 2014, and they were cared for in the
hospital's Level IV neonatal intensive care unit; in advance of
the surgery, three-dimensional models of skeletons, blood
vessels, and organs were created and the staff conducted a
five-hour simulation; and
WHEREAS, On the morning of the surgery, the team of over 30
highly skilled professionals included 8 nurses, 6 anesthesiologists,
and 12 surgeons; among the specialists were experts in pediatric
surgery, liver transplant surgery, orthopedic surgery,
cardiovascular surgery, urology, pediatric gynecology, and
plastic surgery; the complex procedure took 26 hours,
encompassing 18 hours for the initial separation and additional
time to ensure that each twin will be able to lead a healthy,
independent life; and
WHEREAS, This remarkable surgery was the first such
procedure in Houston in nearly two decades, and the members of
this outstanding surgical team are to be commended for their
tremendous accomplishment in making the impossible possible for
two little girls and their family; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th
Legislature, hereby congratulate the Texas Children's Hospital
surgical team on the successful separation of conjoined twins and
extend to the doctors, nurses, and staff sincere best wishes for
the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
prepared for the team as an expression of high regard from the
Texas Senate.
Huffman
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on April 21, 2015.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate