18-year-old Conjoined Twins Who Can Never Be Separated Because They Share a Vital Artery Defy Doctors Who ‘said They Would Die by Age 10’

Conjoined twins who will never be separated are surviving years beyond what doctors predicted.

Neev and Nelly Kolestein, from Amsterdam, were joined at the back of their heads for all 18 years of their lives, but have their own brains and bodies.

Their mother, who did not wish to be identified, was told during childbirth that her babies would be joined at the head.

Doctors were convinced the girls would die shortly after birth, and if they survived, it was predicted their lives would be a struggle before they died around age 10.

They cannot be separated because they share a major artery in their heads that keeps them alive, the family said.

But the twins are thriving and admit they would never want to be separated anyway, despite the cruel torment they have endured throughout their lives.

They have never known anything other than what they are used to, like looking in a mirror and watching television at the same time.

As Craniopagus twins, the girls are a medical phenomenon, making up only two to six percent of conjoined twins worldwide.

The twins have launched their own YouTube channel and Instagram page to raise awareness of their condition and show that they are more than just “disabled girls.”

Despite only seeing each other through a reflection in a mirror, Neev and Nelly have formed an unbreakable bond.

Nelly said: “When we were newborns, everyone thought we were going to die.

“But here we are now. We are 18 years old and standing on all fours.” »

Neev added: “Our bodies are separate, but we are connected at the head.

“Everyone thinks we can reach into each other’s minds. But we don’t.

“We have our own thoughts. That means we can both do our own things, like walk and talk.”

Due to a lack of medical resources where they were born in Suriname, South America, the girls had to move to the Netherlands for more urgent and specialized care.

But despite their parents’ wishes, they couldn’t be separated.

The blood supply to their brains is so tangled that trying to separate them would be fatal.

The twins’ sister, Rosianne Kolestein, 24, who works as a care provider and entrepreneur, said: “We moved my sisters to the Netherlands because there was a slight chance of separating them at first.

“That’s what our parents wanted, they wanted a better life for them, obviously.

“It was not a pleasant time in Suriname. People started to distance themselves from our family, they thought it might be some kind of voodoo.

“But the doctors did more in-depth examinations and realized that it was not possible to separate them. Their brains are joined and they share important blood vessels and veins.

“They have an artery that keeps them alive. If you wanted to separate them, you would have to cut it. If you did that, you might as well bury them.”

Craniopagus twins can be separated in a series of complicated operations, and several cases have been reported in the media.

However, the risks of separation are very high and, unfortunately, it can lead to death during or shortly after the operation, as well as brain damage.

Lori and George Schappell, born in 1961, are considered the longest-surviving craniopagus twins. They are still together at the age of 57.

Rosianne said: “We didn’t expect them to survive to 10. Now they’re 18 and you just have to think ‘wow’.”

Growing up, the girls had to lead sheltered lives due to public reaction and the need to be careful with their coordination in uncontrolled environments.

Nelly said: “We had to be really careful growing up. It was boring. We wanted to go out and do our own thing.

“And with our condition, we don’t have time to live for tomorrow.”

Rosianne continued: “We didn’t really want to take them outside because people can be really mean.

“In one case, we were walking outside and people were asking us questions like ‘Why didn’t your parents terminate the pregnancy?’

“It was really terrible. My mother would have people say ‘you’re just keeping them alive for the money’. It’s really disrespectful.” »

But since the girls turned 16, the family, including other siblings Timothy and Marione, have tried to push them to become more confident.

Rosianne said: “The way I see them, they’re just my little sisters and that’s how it’s always been.

“They have their own personalities for sure. They’re very headstrong and you can tell they really want to make their mark on the world.”

They started vlogging online to connect with more people around the world and raise awareness of their condition.

Nelly said: “We have our own YouTube channel so people can get to know us.

“People will hopefully stop staring at us and see that we’re lovely girls. Not just ‘the disabled girls’.

“It’s fun and you can meet new people. It’s nice to know that people aren’t just reacting negatively.” »

While their future and life expectancy are still uncertain, the conjoined twins continue their studies at school, taking one day of their lives at a time.

“I’m really proud of them. Really proud,” Rosianne said. “They’ve accomplished a lot and grown as people. I think the future can be positive.

“Right now, they’re still in a phase where they have to discover who they are. We’ll let them all do that at their own pace.”

Nelly said, “This is what we’re used to now. We wouldn’t want to separate. Even if we could, we wouldn’t.

“As long as we’re healthy, that’s the most important thing.”