ABIGAIL McConnell has no idea of the medical challenge that has separated her family.
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Her mother, Vanessa McConnell, spent just one hour with Abigail and her identical twin sister Renee, before Renee was flown to Melbourne for emergency medical treatment 12 days ago.
Since then, the girls' father Warrick has mostly been with Renee in Melbourne, Mrs McConnell has been with Abigail at the Launceston General Hospital's neonatal ward, and their nine-month-old son, Jayden, has been at home in Devonport with his grandmother.
After a "terrible" separation, Mr McConnell decided to fly to Launceston on Monday night so he could spend Christmas with his wife, Abigail and Jayden.
But it meant he had to leave Renee in Melbourne.
Mrs McConnell said both girls needed medical care as they were born premature at 33 weeks' gestation, but Renee faced greater health challenges.
"When they went to put a tube down Renee's throat for oxygen, it wouldn't go down, and the x-ray found that her oesophagus had a gap in it," Mrs McConnell said.
"She had to go off for an operation in Melbourne otherwise she won't be able to feed."
Mr McConnell said it was difficult to leave Renee, who was in a stable condition, but had stopped breathing several times since her operation.
"They've put her back on ventiliation ... and back on the morphine, so she's taken a step back and they're not quite sure why she's struggling," Mr McConnell said.
Mrs McConnell said she and her husband would probably fly to Melbourne in coming days, as it was likely Renee would be there for at least two more weeks.
"But then you have to leave Abigail here, you just can't be everywhere at once," Mrs McConnell said.
The family hopes that when Renee is well enough to be transferred to the Royal Hobart Hospital, Abigail can receive care there too.
Mrs McConnell said she felt as though her relationship with Renee hadn't yet started.
"It's just bizarre because you've just given birth, you've gone through a whole big labour and then you're just saying goodbye," Mrs McConnell said.
"And I suppose I didn't think it would go on quite so long."