Jun 5, 2006 10:48 pm US/Central
Carlsens, Clinic Say Farewell
by Jeanette Trompeter
Rochester, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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Amy and Jesse Carlsen hold their daughters Abby and Belle at the Mayo Clinic.
CBS
Amy and Jesse Carlsen pushed a double stroller into the Mayo Clinic courtyard on Monday to a warm response. It was a farewell party to the guests of honor, Abby and Belle, the formerly conjoined twins from Fargo who overcame odds to leave the hospital in a much different way than they entered.
This is the day the Carlsens have been waiting for. They are leaving life in a hospital and heading home with two healthy, separate girls.
As excited as the Carlsen are to get home to Fargo, the goodbyes aren't easy.
"It's amazing," Jesse said, "You just have to keep blinking the tears away."
The Carlsens have spent the last three and a half months at Mayo. Most of that time has been spent preparing the girls and themselves for a surgery that could have had a much different outcome.
Dr. Chris Moir was the lead surgeon in charge of the girls' separation surgery.
"There was a 60 percent chance of they might die, and I said there was about a 50 percent chance of complications, but at this point we're looking as if no further operations," Moir said.
Today's farewell party was a chance for everyone involved in the separation surgery to step outside the hospital and celebrate the success story Abby and Belle have become.
In many ways the Mayo courtyard has been the Carlsens' backyard for the last few months. In a way, the hospital staff has become extended family.
"Oh, definitely," Jesse said. "I'd definitely consider them family now."
As sad as the Carlsens are to say goodbye to the Mayo staff, they're looking forward to the homecoming celebration that will be waiting for them at the airport in Fargo tomorrow.
"Everybody's been calling me, when are you coming home? When are you coming home?" Amy Carlsen said. "So, (I) can't wait."
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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