Couple Who Welcomed Conjoined Twins Say They Cherished the Hour Their 'Beautiful' Girls Were Alive (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Matthew and Breana Dell’s conjoined twin daughters,Amelia Jane and Elhora Auri, were born in Atlanta at 7:37 a.m. on Feb. 29, weighing just 3.5 lbs. each.

“They didn’t ever cry or open their eyes, but they had a heartbeat,” Breana tells PEOPLE. “They were beautiful. I told them they were beautiful.”

The couple had known for months that Breana was pregnant with conjoined twins whom doctors said would be impossible to separate and were unlikely to live long. Still, Breana and Matthew planned to cherish whatever time they had.

Amelia and Elhora lived for about an hour and died lying on their mother’s chest at 8:21 a.m. that February day.

“Their lives were so meaningful," Breana, a 24-year-old stay-at-home mom in Alvaton, Ga., now says. “In the small amount of time that we had with them, they really changed our lives.”

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Matthew and Breana Dell with their conjoined twin daughters, Amelia and Elhora.MDPhotography

MDPhotography

“Because of them,” Breana says of her daughters, “I think that there was a domino effect of other things that happened that are good.”

Her husband echoes that.

“It’s encouraging to see someone else go through something similar,” says Matthew, also 24 and a project manager at a medical company. “Knowing that hard things happen to other people, we don’t have to feel alone.”

Breana Dell with her twins, Amelia and Elhora.MDPhotography

‘They’re at Peace’

The Dells had learned in November that Breana was going to have twins who were conjoined but could not be separated. An ultrasound showed them just one, shared heartbeat.

On Feb. 29, the extended family — grandparents, aunts and uncles — all gathered at Northside Hospital Atlanta together and each held the babies, who were conjoined through their torsos.

Amelia and Elhora Dell.MDPhotography

“That was really special to be able to see them,” says paternal grandfather Patrick Dell, 53. “It was the sweetest thing.”

“It was extremely hard,” Matthew remembers, adding, “I was glad for the time that I was able to hold them. They were sweet. They’re very beautiful, beautiful little babies.”

And when they died, “It was peaceful,” Breana says. “They’re at peace. I’m at peace.”

Matthew Dell carrying son Dallas (left) after wife Breana (right) gave birth to conjoined twin daughters Amelia and Elhora.MDPhotography

‘People Showed That They Care’

The twins’ March 7 memorial service drew some 6,000 mourners online, who attended via a virtual livestream, according to Patrick. Thousands more watched a memorial video that Breana shared on social media.

“It was just amazing how people all over the world just sent their love and support with prayer and encouraging words,” Patrick says. “You can follow up tragedy and impact people in a positive way.“

“Of course we wish that they were here, but we’re really grateful that they’re not suffering and not in pain,” Breana says. “The people that follow on the Facebook page have just been so kind … I really wish I could give them all a big hug. They’re very sweet, and I like to keep those people updated because they’ve been so meaningful in our lives.”

On the page, Conjoined Dell Twins, Breana posts about son Dallas, now a toddler, taking out the chest holding his sisters’ belongings and looking through it, or snuggling with his sisters’ quilt — that a stranger sent them, with two hearts intertwined.

As a way to heal, Breana started painting watercolors of irises, her daughters’ birth flower. She recently launched a business,Petal & Paint.

A memorial for twins Amelia and Elhora Dell.MDPhotography

“People showed that they care so much — that has been huge for me, and I’m so grateful,” she says, noting that numerous people also rallied around the family after they started aGoFundMeto help with their medical and other bills.

Patrick, the twins’ grandfather, says the family is planning on a scholarship for music students at a local university.

The couple hopes to build a house in the spring. Eventually, they’d like to have more children.

source: people.com