Formerly conjoined twin celebrates holidays with her baby

Charity Lincoln Gutierrez-Vazquez and her husband Ruben celebrate Thanksgiving this year with their first child, Alora, at home in Oregon.

It’s been more than three months since the 21-year-old mother gave birth to Alora at UW Medical Center – Montlake on Aug. 12.

The birth was a full-circle moment for Lincoln Gutierrez-Vazquez, who was born conjoined with her twin Kathleen at UW Medical Center in 2000. A high-profile and successful operation to separate the twins followed later that year, at Seattle Children’s.

“It makes you feel comfortable and safe, knowing that they've taken care of your family for years,” said Lincoln Gutierrez-Vazquez. “I think it's really cool that my mom had me here and now I'm having my kids here.”

Dr. Edith Cheng, a UW Medicine obstetrician, and an expert in high-risk pregnancies, oversaw Charity and Kathleen’s birth by Caesarian section 21 years ago. This summer, Cheng was again called upon to lead Charity’s delivery. Like her mother and aunt, Alora was also born without complications via a Caesarian section, on Aug. 12 at UW Medical Center.

“I've learned a lot from them in the way that they look at life,” said Cheng. “Kind of like, ‘don't sweat the small stuff, Dr. Cheng.’ I am just so impressed.”

Access a downloadable broadcast report and ready-for-air soundbites on Alora’s birth.

Read more about Alora’s birth and Charity’s path to motherhood in our blog.