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“At an ultrasound visit, a doctor told us that the twins were conjoined, but two hearts were beating,” recalls Zuhra “Knowing that, despite the slim chances, how could I not fight for my grandchildren. I said that these girls will live. And we won.Today, Zuhra Khudoyberdieva is a proud and beaming grandmother. She shares a remarkable tale of triumph against the odds—a compelling narrative of how modern healthcare can transform lives amidst the most challenging circumstances.“At an ultrasound visit, a doctor told us that the twins were conjoined, but two hearts were beating,” recalls Zuhra “Knowing that, despite the slim chances, how could I not fight for my grandchildren. I said that these girls will live. And we won.On the fateful day, her daughter-in-law, Ogiloy, had to undergo emergency labor, it was not in a massive metropolitan hospital where the miracle would occur, but at the modest Chirchik perinatal center, in the heart of Tashkent region.Once scarcely equipped for complex surgeries, the Chirchik facility recently rose to the occasion, delivering and successfully separating its first set of conjoined twins, thanks to Uzbekistan's substantial investment in healthcare modernization.The transformation of 230 perinatal centers across the nation, including Chirchik, was made possible under Ishonch Fund, a repatriation agreement between Uzbekistan and Switzerland, financing $43.5 million to the Ministry of Health, aimed at revamping maternal and perinatal care through a collaboration spearheaded by UNICEF, UNFPA, and WHO.For Ogiloy and the twins, this investment was nothing short of lifesaving. Every moment was crucial, and the swift intervention and advanced equipment played pivotal roles in this miraculous outcome."After consulting with Professor Bakhtiyor Ergashev of the Republican Perinatal Center, we performed an emergency Caesarean section to deliver and another much more complicated surgery to separate the twins," explains Dr. Doniyor Asadov, Director of the Tashkent regional branch of the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Mother and Child Health. "Our region’s capability for such a unique operation was possible because we are very well equipped."The Chirchik center now boasts advanced lifesaving equipment: incubators for premature infants, machines assisting those with breathing difficulties, heart rate monitors, and surgical lights—an essential toolkit enabling the most delicate operations."The uniqueness of the “Ishonch 2030” program is allowing us to care for all premature babies, including underweight children starting at 500 grams," Dr. Asadov adds.Nursing these delicate newborns was possible thanks to the new equipment and ongoing staff training under the “Ishonch 2030” Fund.The story which started with two heartbeats holding onto hope, grew firmer each day. Despite the inherent risks of complicated childbirth, small perinatal centers like Chirchik are witness to such small miracles every day.Across Uzbekistan, from the bustling capital to its rural outskirts, the nation’s 230 perinatal centers are replicating this magic.Beyond equipment upgrades, healthcare workers acquired crucial skills to care for the most fragile newborns. Social behavior campaigns urge pregnant women to seek early care, reinforcing a widespread embrace of  timely care and modern medicine.Today, the twins are comfortably home, surrounded by a family brimming with joy and optimism. The twins have become the center of affection, with Ogiloy and Zuhra receiving an outpouring of support in their caregiving journey."My daughters are thriving," Ogiloy proudly shares. "I am breastfeeding them, and I dream of them growing into doctors—like those who brought them safely into this world."Indeed, this is a story beginning with heartbeats in peril now thriving in safety—a testament to the power of modern healthcare and unyielding hope.