Extremely Rare Conjoined Twins Die at 3 Weeks

They were rare even among the rare phenomenon of conjoined twins—Faith and Hope Howie shared a skull, but had separate faces and brains. The twins died yesterday at a hospital in Sydney, just shy of 3 weeks old, reports Australia's News Network. The condition is called diprosopus, and fewer than 40 cases have been recorded worldwide, reports 9 News of Australia. Parents Renee Young and Simon Howie say they have no regrets about going ahead with the pregnancy, against the advice of doctors who spotted the condition at the 19-week mark.

"I think they're beautiful, Simon thinks they're beautiful, really that's all that matters," said Young after the girls' birth. (More conjoined twins stories.)