ATLANTA -- Conjoined twin boys born in Atlanta passed away on Friday, their father announced on Facebook.
Michael and Robin Hamby's twins -- Asa and Eli --were born by Caesarean section at Northside Hospital in Atlanta at 7:32 a.m. Thursday. Attached at the torso, arms and legs, the two could not be separated because they shared a heart and circulatory system.
The Hambys, who are from from Ladonia, Ala., arrived in Atlanta on Wednesday night. After the birth Thursday, the twins were transferred to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Egleston.
Late Friday night, Michael Hamby posted an 8-minute message with his wife by his side saying, in part, "I'm sad, so sad to say that my sons passed away today at 5 o'clock. They fought long and hard."
Hamby said that they were doing well last night, but "early this morning they started having a little bit of heart issues...basically, one side of the heart was beating faster than the other."
Robyn Hamby, who was recovering at Northside Hospital, was rushed to Egleston to be with twins, Michael Hamby said.
"Robyn got over there, we got love on them, and hold them and sing to them," said Michael Hamby.
The twins were placed off of ventilators. After "about 45 minutes, Eli and Asa went on to sleep to be with the Lord," said Michael Hamby.
The Hambys thanked supporters for prayers. They said they were leaning on their faith in God in this difficult time.
The likelihood of conjoined twins is a rare event, happening just once every 200,000 live births, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. But their likelihood of survival is grim: About 40 to 60 percent are stillborn, and about 35 percent live only one day.
Robyn Hamby is continuing to recovering at Northside Hospital, according to the video.
