Nigerian conjoined twins separated at U.S hospital

Nigerian conjoined twins separated at U.S hospital

Thursday, November 17, 2016 9:19 am


In this Nov. 8, 2016 photo provided by the Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, twins from Nigeria, Miracle and Testimony Ayeni, rest after being separated at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. The girls were conjoined at the lower half of the body and separated following about an 18-hour procedure.

In this Nov. 8, 2016 photo provided by the Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, twins from Nigeria, Miracle and Testimony Ayeni, rest after being separated at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

Twin girls born to Nigerians parents and conjoined at the pelvis have been separated after an 18 hours of surgery that began on Nov. 7 and finished Nov. 8 at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Tennessee Memphis, United States, according to AP.

The twins, identified as Miracle and Testimony Ayeni  in the hospital statement were separated during 18 hours of surgery   after the lengthy operation  ahead of their first birthday.

Dr. Max Langham who led the operation said the twins were joined together at the pelvis, a condition that only occurs in one of about every 5 million births.

“Without separation, their future wasn’t very good,” Langham said at a news conference.

“They would grow up incontinent, unable to walk, totally dependent for all of their care and unable to participate in the world fully.”

Doctors are optimistic about the long-term prognosis and hospital spokeswoman Anne Glanker told The Associated Press that both girls are “doing really well.”

The twins have been in the hospital since their parents brought them from Nigeria in June to prepare for the procedure. The twins face additional surgeries and rehabilitation and it’s not clear when they might return home.

Wednesday is the first birthday of the twins.

In this Sept. 6, 2016 photo provided by the Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, conjoined twins from Nigeria, Miracle and Testimony Ayeni, sit at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital before being separated

In this Sept. 6, 2016 photo provided by the Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, conjoined twins from Nigeria, Miracle and Testimony Ayeni, sit at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital before being separated

Miracle and Testimony were born on Nov. 16, 2015, in Enugu State, Nigeria. In January 2016, Nigerian-based Linking Hands Foundation (LHF) was notified of their medical situation.

LHF is a registered organization with a focus on children’s education, health and values.

Upon learning of the twins’ condition, LHF committed to solicit support toward their medical care.

Through its research, LHF referred the Ayeni family to Le Bonheur where they have spent the past five months as surgeons prepared for surgery.

AP also reported that this is the second time a set of conjoined twins have been separated at Le Bonheur. Twin boys who were joined at the back and pelvis were separated in 2011.

 


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