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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.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Life or death decisions as politicians weigh up assisted dying vote
There are few decisions Holyrood can take that are bigger than a vote on assisted dying. Whether or not to allow terminally ill adults to seek medical help to end their lives is of fundamental consequence. The vote on Tuesday will also be of note to decision makers at Westminster, where similar proposals for England and Wales are working their way through the UK parliament. MSPs have twice before rejected attempts to change the law, most recently in 2015. The Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, who has developed the current proposal, believes the mood in parliament is now "very, very different". He clearly expects his bill to have more support than previous attempts - but that is not the same as saying that he is sure it has sufficient support to proceed. Speaking on BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show, he said he expected the first vote to be "close". He could be concerned in part about the potential impact of recent interventions. First Minister John Swinney has not changed his position over the years. He has consistently voted against assisted dying and it was no surprise when he revealed that he intends to do so again. He said that representations in favour of assisted dying from constituents who have witnessed loved ones suffer terribly at the end of their lives caused him to agonise over his decision. However, he believes that changing the law would unacceptably alter the relationship between doctors and their patients and that it could put pressure on sick and disabled people to end their lives prematurely. Swinney has also been careful to stress that he has reached a personal view, that he is not seeking to influence others, and the Scottish government will remain "neutral". Swinney will not support assisted dying in Scotland MSP to raise assisted dying age from 16 to 18 in bill Could assisted dying be coming to Scotland? Having said that, the Scottish government has already advised that it thinks Holyrood would be exceeding its authority by voting for assisted dying because the law on lethal drugs is under Westminster control. McArthur argues that these issues could be overcome if Holyrood votes in favour of assisted dying. Each MSP is free to vote according to their conscience rather than along party lines. That does not mean the views of party leaders are unimportant. They could well sway the opinion of undecided MSPs. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay is understood to be "sceptical" about the current bill. And Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said he will be voting against, while pressing for greater investment in palliative care. The Scottish Green and Scottish Liberal Democrat leaders are expected to support the legislation. The indications are that the vote on Tuesday could be relatively close. There appears to be a sufficient number of MSPs who have not declared their views to swing the decision either way. Liam McArthur is still having conversations with undecided MSPs in the hope of winning them over. He argues that not changing the law would let down too many Scots who suffer in the final stages of life to a degree that leaves their loved ones "traumatised". Some politicians are trying to weigh up the arguments over the weekend. Others intend to listen to the debate in parliament before making up their minds. If there are more "no" votes than "yes" votes from MSPs on Tuesday the bill will be rejected. If there are more "yes" votes than "no" votes that is not the last word on the issue. That would amount to approval in principle. The debate would continue with the potential for MSPs to make changes to the bill to ease concerns. There would need to be another vote of the whole Scottish Parliament on any final version of the legislation. The separate bill for England and Wales was backed by MPs in November, but has yet to go to a final vote in the Commons. One MSP described the assisted dying decision in Scotland as an opportunity for Holyrood to be at its best. Whatever the outcome, they hope for a heavyweight debate with powerful arguments on both sides and the careful consideration that sensitive matters of life and death demand.
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Life or death decisions as politicians weigh up assisted dying vote
There are few decisions Holyrood can take that are bigger than a vote on assisted or not to allow terminally ill adults to seek medical help to end their lives is of fundamental vote on Tuesday will also be of note to decision makers at Westminster, where similar proposals for England and Wales are working their way through the UK have twice before rejected attempts to change the law, most recently in Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, who has developed the current proposal, believes the mood in parliament is now "very, very different".He clearly expects his bill to have more support than previous attempts - but that is not the same as saying that he is sure it has sufficient support to proceed. That could partly be because he is concerned about the potential impact of recent Minister John Swinney has not changed his position over the has consistently voted against assisted dying and it was no surprise when he revealed that he intends to do so said that representations in favour of assisted dying from constituents who have witnessed loved ones suffer terribly at the end of their lives caused him to agonise over his he believes that changing the law would unacceptably alter the relationship between doctors and their patients and that it could put pressure on sick and disabled people to end their lives has also been careful to stress that he has reached a personal view, that he is not seeking to influence others, and the Scottish government will remain "neutral". Having said that, the Scottish government has already advised that it thinks Holyrood would be exceeding its authority by voting for assisted dying because the law on lethal drugs is under Westminster argues that these issues could be overcome if Holyrood votes in favour of assisted MSP is free to vote according to their conscience rather than along party does not mean the views of party leaders are unimportant. They could well sway the opinion of undecided Conservative leader Russell Findlay is understood to be "sceptical" about the current Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said he will be voting against, while pressing for greater investment in palliative Scottish Green and Scottish Liberal Democrat leaders are expected to support the legislation. The indications are that the vote on Tuesday could be relatively close. There appears to be a sufficient number of MSPs who have not declared their views to swing the decision either McArthur is still having conversations with undecided MSPs in the hope of winning them argues that not changing the law would let down too many Scots who suffer in the final stages of life to a degree that leaves their loved ones "traumatised".Some politicians are trying to weigh up the arguments over the weekend. Others intend to listen to the debate in parliament before making up their there are more "no" votes than "yes" votes from MSPs on Tuesday the bill will be there are more "yes" votes than "no" votes that is not the last word on the issue. That would amount to approval in principle. The debate would continue with the potential for MSPs to make changes to the bill to ease would need to be another vote of the whole Scottish Parliament on any final version of the separate bill for England and Wales was backed by MPs in November, but has yet to go to a final vote in the MSP described the assisted dying decision in Scotland as an opportunity for Holyrood to be at its the outcome, they hope for a heavyweight debate with powerful arguments on both sides and the careful consideration that sensitive matters of life and death demand.
