Latest news with #conjoinedtwins
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
I've fixed thousands of brains and seen proof we have a soul... just look at conjoined twins, even trees
A neurosurgeon who has performed more than 7,000 surgeries believes he has proof that people possess souls, pointing to everything from dying patients and conjoined twins to trees. When Michael Egnor, 69, began studying to become a neurosurgeon decades ago, he most certainly didn't believe in the concept.
Arab News
18-05-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Filipino conjoined twins now in Riyadh for surgical separation
RIYADH: Filipino conjoined twin sisters Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa arrived Saturday in Riyadh and are now being assessed for possible separation surgery under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program. The twins were taken to the King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital at the Ministry of National Guard upon arrival at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Klea Ann and Maurice Ann, accompanied by their parents, were brought to the Kingdom from Manila upon royal directives. They are the third conjoined twins from the Philippines to be placed under the program. The program's medical and surgical team is headed by Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeea, who is also director general of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief). The twin's parents expressed their deep gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their generous care and warm reception, as well as the comprehensive medical attention they received, SPA said. In an interview published Saturday in Arab News, the twin's mother, Maricel Misa, was quoted as saying that since her babies were born seven years ago, she had been praying that one day someone would help make her children live a normal life. Mrs. Misa, who owns a small shop with her husband in Lubang island in Mindoro Oriental province, central Philippines, have no other means to get their twins undergo costly surgical operation. Her prayers were answered when she got a call from the Saudi Embassy in Manila and told that the Kingdom was willing to help. 'We saw a post from Saudi Arabia about conjoined twins from the Philippines who had undergone surgery there, and I commented, saying I hope we can be helped too. Someone noticed my comment and reached out to me,' Mrs. Misa said. Since its founding in 1990, the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program has separated more than 140 children born sharing internal organs with their siblings. Among them were Filipino conjoined twins Ann and Mae Manz — joined at the abdomen, pelvis, and perineum — who were separated by Dr. Al-Rabeeah and his team in March 2004. A second Filipino pair, Akhizah and Ayeesha Yusoph — joined at the lower chest and abdomen and shared one liver — were successfully separated in September 2024. Dr. Al Rabeeah, who is also an adviser at the Royal Court, has pointed out that the program 'reflects the Kingdom's principles of mercy and human solidarity without discrimination.'
Arab News
16-05-2025
- General
- Arab News
Third pair of Filipino conjoined twins prepares for life-changing surgery in Riyadh
MANILA: When Maricel Misa saw a social media post about Filipino conjoined twins separated in Saudi Arabia last year, she congratulated them and said she hoped her daughters would also get that chance one day. Little did she know that a few months later, they would be flying to Riyadh for the same life-changing help. Misa, who owns a small shop with her husband in Lubang, a municipality on the island of Mindoro, learned that her children were joined at the head in her sixth month of pregnancy. At first, they did not believe the ultrasound reading and hoped everything would still be fine. When the girls were born, their parents' world suddenly turned upside down, but they soon overcame the shock and organized themselves to give Maurice Ann and Klea all the support they could afford. 'My husband gave up his work so that someone could stay home to take care of our children as they grew up. We know that they are not like other children. They need constant care, someone to assist them when walking, bathing, and eating every single day,' Misa told Arab News. 'What we are going through right now is really very tough, especially when it comes to their schooling … One of them, I'm not even sure if she's learning well, because she's always facing sideways. But by God's grace, they're learning a lot and have made friends. And thankfully, they're not getting bullied by their classmates.' Like all parents, she and her husband have always hoped their daughters would one day live like other children and become independent. Misa knew it was possible after the separation of another pair of Filipino conjoined twins made headlines last year. 'We saw a post from Saudi Arabia about conjoined twins from the Philippines who had undergone surgery there, and I commented, saying I hope we can be helped too. Someone noticed my comment and reached out to me,' she said. Maurice Ann and Klea Misa and their parents meet Saudi Ambassador Faisal bin Ibrahim Al-Ghamdi at the Kingdom's embassy in Manila on May 15, 2025. (Saudi Embassy, Manila) 'Not long after that, the Saudi Embassy called me and told me that our trip to Saudi Arabia for a medical evaluation had been approved. Now, we're just waiting a few more days before we travel. We are really thankful for the help of the Saudi government. This is a huge blessing for us. I truly want my children to have a normal life. We are so incredibly thankful that the Saudi government noticed us, even though we are not their own people.' Maurice Ann and Klea will be traveling to Riyadh on Saturday. The Saudi Embassy in Manila announced this week that all the costs will be borne by the Kingdom under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program and that they will receive specialized medical care in King Abdulaziz Medical City. 'Their case will be overseen by the esteemed medical and surgical team led by His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, supervisor-general of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center,' the embassy said. 'This case marks the third instance of Filipino conjoined twins to be treated under this pioneering humanitarian program.' Dr. Al-Rabeeah, who leads the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, is one of the world's most renowned pediatric surgeons. Since the establishment of the program in 1990, he and his team have separated more than 140 children who were born sharing internal organs with their siblings. Next week, as Maurice Ann and Klea start their treatment in Riyadh, they will observe their seventh birthday. 'I have no other wish but for them to live a normal life, to be like other children. I want them to finish their studies and achieve their dreams. Even if one day we are no longer around, we want to be at peace knowing that they can take care of themselves because they are living normal lives. That's all I truly hope for,' their mother said. 'This upcoming surgery of our twins, if it becomes successful, will bring such a huge change in our lives … They'll finally have the freedom to live their own lives, thanks to the support of the Saudi government. This is truly a life-changing help for us.' Conjoined twins are a rare phenomenon, estimated to occur once in every 50,000 to 60,000 births. The first pair of Filipino conjoined twins, Ann and Mae Manz, were separated by Dr. Al-Rabeeah and his team in March 2004. They were joined at the abdomen, pelvis, and perineum. The second pair, Akhizah and Ayeesha Yusoph, were joined at the lower chest and abdomen and shared one liver. They were successfully separated under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program in September 2024.
Asharq Al-Awsat
15-05-2025
- Health
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Medical Team Separates Conjoined Twins in Groundbreaking 15-Hour Surgery
The medical and surgical team of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program successfully separated on Wednesday Eritrean twins Asma and Someya, who were joined at the head, at King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital in Riyadh. King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) Supervisor General and head of the medical team Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah said the complex procedure, which lasted more than 15 hours, was carried out in adherence to Saudi leadership directives by a dedicated team of 36 consultants and specialists from multiple disciplines. The team employed neuronavigational technology and surgical microscopy to ensure precise planning and uphold the highest safety standards. He added that this operation marks the 64th separation performed under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, which has treated over 149 cases from 27 countries over the past 35 years. The program continues to receive strong support from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Over the years, it has achieved outstanding medical successes, showcasing the advanced capabilities and professionalism of Saudi Arabia's healthcare sector and its medical teams. Consultant pediatric neurosurgeon and head of the Pediatric Neurosurgery Dr. Moutasem Azzubi explained that the twins underwent a comprehensive evaluation, which revealed the fusion of skull bones, brain membranes, veins, and certain arteries. The separation was conducted in stages, beginning with an initial surgical procedure followed by three interventional radiology procedures to block shared arteries and veins. The pediatric plastic surgery team inserted tissue expanders under the skin to stretch it over several months and allow sufficient skin coverage after the separation. The twins' family expressed their sincere gratitude to the Saudi leadership for making this life-saving procedure possible and ensuring their children received the best medical care. They also commended the Kingdom's humanitarian efforts and extended thanks for the generous hospitality they received during their stay in Saudi Arabia.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Conjoined twins attached at the chest, belly and pelvis are successfully separated in painstaking 15-hour operation
Twin sisters who were born sharing a chest, stomach and pelvis have now been separated in a massive 15-hour operation involving nearly 60 medics. Kiraz and Aruna, from Brazil, were born conjoined and shared several vital organs, making their surgical separation an incredibly complex procedure. The one year-old sisters went under the knife on May 10th in what one of the surgeons involved said was one of the most complex ever performed in the state of Goiás where they live. The girls are what is medically known as tripus ischiopagus conjoined twins. This means the pair were joined at the pelvis and have three legs between them. Tripus ischiopagus is rare even among conjoined twins, accounting for only about six per cent of all cases. The sisters are still recovering in the intensive care unit of a children's hospital but are reported to be in a stable condition. Hospital officials said a team of 16 surgeons worked in four-hour shifts to complete the mammoth operation as quickly possible to reduce the risk of potentially serious complications. Lead surgeon Dr Zacharias Calil explained: 'There are around 16 surgeons involved, including four anaesthetists, residents, three urologists, paediatricians and orthopaedists.' He also told local media: 'This will be one of the most complex procedures we have ever performed.' However, the twins still face a series of follow-up procedures needed to reconstruct the tissue and organs impacted by the separation. The £310,000 operation itself represented months of preparation. Six months before going under the knife Kiraz and Aruna had skin expanders, special inflatable implants, inserted into their bodies. These implants cause skin surrounding the area to stretch and grow and will help surgeons reconstruct tissue for the twins in subsequent operations. Cases of conjoined twins are incredibly rare, occurring in as few as one in every 200,000 births, according to some estimates. Despite recent medical advances surgery to separate conjoined twins is still considered a delicate and risky procedure requiring extreme precision and care. Mortality rates for twins who undergo surgical separation vary tremendously depending on the exact nature of their connection and which organs they share. Since the 1950s at least one twin has survived the surgery 75 per cent of time. Therefore, the decision to separate twins is a serious one. Normally, twins are born after a single fertilised egg splits and develops into two individual embryos. The split normally occurs eight to 12 days after conception with the embryos going on to develop their own tissues and organs separately. However, in the case of conjoined twins it is believed this split happens too late and the embryos do not separate. Approximately 40 to 60 per cent of conjoined twins arrive stillborn, while around 35 per cent survive only one day. About one set of conjoined twins is born in the UK per 500,000 births, which translates to about one per year on average.
