Senate Resolution No. 799

BY: Senator KLEIN

CONGRATULATING the expert surgical and medical
providers of the Montefiore Health System, The
Children's Hospital at Montefiore, on the successful
surgery that separated the conjoined McDonald twins

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
give outstanding service to the people of the Empire State and whose
exceptional achievements save the lives of their fellow citizens should
be congratulated; their extraordinary efforts so profoundly strengthen
our shared commitment to family and community life; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
congratulate the expert surgical and medical providers of the Montefiore
Health System, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, on the successful
surgery that separated the conjoined McDonald twins; and

WHEREAS, Montefiore Health System is both a premier academic medical
center and the University Hospital for the Albert Einstein College of
Medicine, serving the 3.1 million people living in the New York City
region and the Hudson Valley; it combines nationally recognized clinical
excellence with expertise in accountable, value-based care which focuses
on patients, their families and the community; this vital System
includes The Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM), the only hospital
in the Bronx exclusively dedicated to meeting the healthcare needs of
children; and

WHEREAS, Located in the Bronx, CHAM is a leading academic children's
hospital, nationally renowned for its clinical excellence, innovative
research and commitment to the community and children of the Bronx, as
well as to the pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists since opening
in 2001; and

WHEREAS, On October 14, 2016, a team of approximately 50 expert
surgical and medical providers at CHAM completed the last surgery that
successfully separated 13-month-old craniopagus twin boys, Jadon and
Anias McDonald; and

WHEREAS, James T. Goodrich, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sci. (Hon.), Director,
Pediatric Neurosurgery, CHAM and Professor, Clinical Neurological
Surgery, Pediatrics and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Albert
Einstein College of Medicine and Oren Tepper, M.D., Director,
Craniofacial and Aesthetic Surgery, Montefiore and assistant professor
of Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, led the team through
four surgeries over the course of 10 months at CHAM; and

WHEREAS, The multidisciplinary team consisted of: Dr. Goodrich, Dr.
Tepper, Joaquim M. Farinhas, M.D., neuro-radiologist, Department of
Radiology, Montefiore and Kamilah A. Dowling, D.N.P., nurse
practitioner, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, CHAM, planned each
stage of the separation using innovative virtual planning technology to
create 3D models of the boys' brains and skulls; and

WHEREAS, Additionally, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and the entire
CHAM staff provided both pre- and post-surgery care to the McDonald
siblings; this is the first time the team used virtual planning and 3D
printing technologies in a series of highly complex surgeries; the
models were used as guides for the procedures, allowing the team to
carefully plan each stage in advance, mapping out the boys' anatomy
prior to incision; and

WHEREAS, The McDonald boys are the seventh set of craniopagus
conjoined twins Dr. Goodrich and the CHAM staff have successfully
separated with various surgical teams from around the world; out of the
seven surgeries, two were performed in the Bronx; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Goodrich and his medical personnel at CHAM have now
consulted on a total of 21 sets of craniopagus conjoined twins; each set
of separations has resulted in good outcomes with no deaths or severe
morbidities; and

WHEREAS, Jadon and Anias McDonald are still recovering and will
likely spend several months getting rehabilitation therapies,
strengthening their bodies, and continuing to develop their distinct
personalities; the boys will return to CHAM regularly for follow-up care
with Dr. Tepper and Dr. Goodrich, who will both continue to closely
monitor the boys' progress; and

WHEREAS, Montefiore Health System combines clinical and academic
experience by pushing the boundaries of current research and continuing
to be a leader in innovation and technology, allowing for the successful
separation of the McDonald twins; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body cannot express sufficient gratitude
to those devoted and skilled individuals who recognize that the
preservation of life is a sacred responsibility and who make that
responsibility their own by serving as gifted surgeons and exceptional
medical staff; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the expert surgical and medical providers of the Montefiore
Health System, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, on the successful
surgery that separated the conjoined McDonald twins; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to aforementioned surgeons and medical personnel of the
Montefiore Health System, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore; and the
McDonald family.