Miniature Medical Marvels

Parents of conjoined twins had faith miracle babies would survive

On August 29, the parents of conjoined identical twins Owen and Emmett Ezell spoke to the media for the first time since their miracle babies were born more than a month ago. The twins recently underwent a complicated separation surgery at Medical City Children's hospital in Dallas and are now in stable condition.

Owen and Emmett are still on breathing machines, but they now have their own digestive systems, thanks to extensive surgery to connect their intestinal tracts. The boys were joined from breast bone to belly button.

Dave and Jenni Ezell said making decisions about the complicated birth of their sons was the hardest thing they've ever had to do. After an MRI showed the twins were conjoined, the couple's first doctor recommended they abort the babies, because they had such a small chance of surviving.

"It was the hardest decision a mother has to make about her babies," Jenni said through tears as she recalls the experience. But the doctor preparing to do the abortion sent Jenni to Medical City Children's hospital in Dallas for a second opinion. That was when a doctor told the Ezells there was a good chance the boys could survive birth and beyond.

"I could not contain my joy," Jenni said. "From that point on, we have stuck with Medical City."

The couple praised the doctors, nurses and surgeons at Medical City, calling them close friends and practically family. "I guess the lesson here is, have faith," Dave said.

Due to the twins' high risk of infection, the couple hasn't yet held Owen and Emmett, but Dave and Jenni are with them as much as possible and are allowed to touch them. Jenni said the first meeting between mother and sons was emotional.

"I just cried. It was amazing to see them," said Jenni, who has chronicled the entire experience on her blog.

Doctors aren't sure when the boys will be able to go home and join the Ezells' other two sons in Dallas. Although they estimate the twins will need at least two or three more surgeries, the most complicated procedure is complete.

"I'm already planning their first birthday party," Jenni said. "I'm looking forward to everything."

Emmett Ezell opens his eyes days after life-saving surgery.

Photo courtesy of Medical City Dallas

Emmett Ezell opens his eyes days after life-saving surgery.

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Coworking News

New coworking space to open in Dallas' Oak Lawn neighborhood

Office Evolution

A coworking space is opening in Dallas in a central location: Office Evolution, a Louisville-based coworking chain, will open what a release says is a "state-of-the-art coworking space" at 3500 Oak Lawn Ave. #360 in Dallas at the southeast corner of Lemmon Avenue.

No details on what makes it state-of-the-art, but construction is ongoing and an opening is anticipated in mid-October.

Office Evolution was founded in 2003 as a shared workspace-coworking environment, cultivated on the principles of "Ohana," the Hawaiian tradition that references family working toward a common goal. (The founder was from Hawaii.)

The company started out in Boulder, Colorado, then relocated its headquarters to Louisville. It's an affiliated brand of United Franchise Group, and is part of The Vast Coworking Group, which specializes in franchising within the coworking industry. All of their locations are franchised.

The Dallas location is owned by franchisee Michael Pickering, a Dallas native who runs a family-owned indoor soccer facility in Dallas. (There are two other Office Evolution locations in the DFW area in McKinney and Southlake, owned by different franchisees.)

They're describing the Dallas location at 3500 Oak Lawn Ave. as "Turtle Creek," although its location at Oak Lawn and Lemmon really puts it at the epicenter of Oak Lawn. (To further complicate matters, the building previously and incorrectly described its address as "Uptown.")

It's a seven-story building in which the majority of tenants are doctor and medical offices.

Office Evolution rates include a coworking day pass for $25, plus "flex" office options starting at $200 a month for 20 hours, up to $550 a month for 80 hours.

Amenities of the building that are also accessible to Office Evolution customers include a front desk; a 1,000-square-foot fitness center; covered parking; and on-site security six days a week.

According to a spokesperson, Pickering and his team put $1.2 million into the renovation to transform the space, which occupies most of the fourth floor where it will span 9,240 square feet of space with 41 total offices — one of which is earmarked as an "on-demand office" for the professional on the go.

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