Little miracles
Joy after British medics separate conjoined twins
THE mother of conjoined twins separated by British medics in 50 hours of surgery has said she is “excited about the future” after they finally left hospital.
Safa and Marwa Ullah, two, beat tough odds to survive when they were born with their skulls and blood vessels fused.
Around 40% of twins joined at the head are stillborn or die during childbirth – while a third more die within 24 hours.
Their plight moved Pakistani businessman Murtaza Lakhani to pay for the surgery to separate them at Great Ormond Street Hospital in West London – in procedures that involved 100 staff members.
Mum Zainab Bibi, 34, said: “We are indebted to the hospital and to the staff and we would like to thank them for everything. We are extremely excited about the future.”
Safa and Marwa had the first of three operations last October and the last in February.
Medics had to insert a layer of plastic into their heads to keep their brains and blood vessels apart.
The girls had new skulls built using their own bone, and tissue expanders were used to ensure skin stretched over the top of each head.
Surgeons prepared for their delicate work by practising on 3D-printed plastic models of their skulls, while virtual reality was used to replicate their anatomy.
Safa and Marwa, from Charsadda in northern Pakistan, were discharged earlier this month and are doing daily physiotherapy as part of their recuperation.
They are living in London with their mum, grandfather Mohammad Sadat, 57, and an uncle.
Neurosurgeon Noor ul Owase Jeelani said: “We are delighted we have been able to help Safa and Marwa, and their family.
“It has been a long and complex journey for them and the clinical team looking after them.
“From our personal point of view, it has been great to get to know the girls and their family. Their faith and determination have been so important in getting them through the challenges they have faced. We are incredibly proud of them.”
Conjoined twins only account for one in every 2.5 million births and only 5% of these are joined at the head – or craniopagus.
Great Ormond Street previously did successful separations on craniopagus twins in 2006 and 2011.
It has been a long and complex journey for them and the team
NOOR UL OWASE JEELANI NEUROSURGEON