A pair of conjoined twins are closely monitored at a hospital in Hunan Province, China.
Linked at the chest, belly, and liver, the two girls were born on November 29th, and are waiting for an operation to separate them.
State media reported that the parents, who survive on around 1,000 yuan a month - about 160 U.S. dollars - are trying to raise the 300,000 yuan needed for the operation.
(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) FATHER OF CONJOINED TWINS ZHENG YUNSU SAYING:
"When my wife gave birth to the children, I borrowed 5,000 yuan to cover the expenses."
A local donation started by the hospital raised around 20,000 yuan, but only covers a fraction of the sum needed.
The twins have heart defects and high levels of jaundice, and the local hospital decided to transfer them to a special children's hospital in the provincial capital.
(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) MOTHER OF CONJOINED TWINS ZHAO YUMEI SAYING:
"I just want my children to be healthy and the operation successful."
An ultrasound examination showed surgery to separate the twins would be possible, though complicated by a thick blood vessel connecting the two girls.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters