JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The family of locally born conjoined twins is celebrating a special milestone.
It's been almost two months since Michelle Brantley of Jacksonville delivered Carter and Conner.
However, the boys have not been strong enough for them to be taken out of their bed in the NICU at Wolfson Children's Hospital.
But for the first time since the twins were born, Brantley was finally able to hold them on her own in a rocking chair for about an hour.
She told First Coast News on Monday it was a very special bonding moment.
"It was very exciting. I was so happy. I had the biggest smile on my face. I was excited. I was already sitting in the chair waiting for them to bring them to me," she said.
Before, Brantley could only come into the NICU to visit her sons while they remained lying down. She admitted she was starting to get impatient.
"I wanted it to happen so bad, but I just keep waiting and waiting until they were ready," she said.
Carter and Conner have survived one separation surgery so far, but remain conjoined at the liver.
Brantley expects surgeons to complete the separation surgery in the next six to 10 months.
The boys, meanwhile, continue to improve, she said. She said they are now seeing speech and physical therapists and eating on their own with the assistance of a feeding tube.
It's believed the boys are the first pair of conjoined twins ever born or separated in Jacksonville.
Brantley is looking forward to holding them more often and having them come home eventually. The family is already working on a big party.
