Little Faith Williams was today fighting for her life as doctors warned the next few days would be critical in her battle for survival.

See also – Messages of support after twin’s death

Medics today gave baby Faith a 50/50 chance of winning her fight as she showed some signs of improvement.

Yesterday doctors revealed twin sister Hope had died after an emergency operation to separate her from Faith at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Mum Laura Williams, 18, from Harlescott, in Shrewsbury, made medical history by becoming the youngest ever woman to give birth to conjoined twins.

Well-wishers across the county have been sending their thoughts and prayers to Laura and her husband Aled, after news broke of Hope’s death.

The separation operation took place on Tuesday.

Professor Agostino Pierro, head of the surgical team at Great Ormond Street Hospital, said it was “one of the most complex and challenging operations” ever faced by medical staff at the hospital.

Now Faith, who is just over a week old, has been given a 50/50 chance of survival by surgeons. She is said to be gradually improving but Professor Pierro warned it was early days and there could be complications. She will also need more surgery on her stomach.

The girls were delivered by Caesarean section at London’s University College Hospital last Wednesday with a combined weight of 4.8kg.

They were then taken to Great Ormond Street – the most experienced centre in Europe for separating conjoined twins.

They were joined from the breastbone to the top of the navel and had a shared liver but separate hearts.

Medical staff warned Laura and her husband Aled, 28, a binman who used to work for Veolia in Shropshire, that their babies might not survive after a 12-week scan revealed the problem but they refused to consider a termination.

Doctors had hoped to wait until the twins were older and stronger to operate, but Professor Pierro said his team had to begin surgery on Tuesday because of a “sudden deterioration” in the children’s health.

Dozens of comments have poured onto the Shropshire Star’s website to let Laura and Aled know the county’s thoughts are with them.

By Rebecca Lawrence