London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) recently organised Conjoined Twins Day, hosted by the hospital’s Specialist Neonatal and Paediatric Surgery (SNAPS) team.
The event brought together six sets of twins and their families, offering a chance for them to meet and, in some instances, reunite.
The twins in attendance spanned a wide age range, from the youngest pair, Zayne and Zion, who are six months old, to the eldest, Hassan and Hussein, who are 13 years old. All of these twins continue to receive medical care and treatment at GOSH.
During the event, each set of twins had the opportunity to meet with their respective medical teams at GOSH before coming together to enjoy a pizza meal.
GOSH has a remarkable track record of successfully separating conjoined twins, a distinction they hold on a global scale.
The hospital achieved its first successful separation of conjoined twins back in 1985, thanks to the pioneering work of Professor Lewis Spitz and Dr Edward Kiely.
Since that milestone, GOSH has cared for more than 38 sets of conjoined twins, solidifying its reputation as a world leader in this field.
The process of separating conjoined twins is often intricate, with some surgeries lasting 15-plus hours and necessitating two separate operating rooms.
An array of medical specialists, including orthopaedic surgeons, haematologists, urologists, general surgeons, plastic surgeons, anaesthetists and intensive care specialists, collaborate to ensure the success of these procedures.
Additionally, paediatricians, ward nurses and allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, speech and language therapists, and the Play team, are crucial in the twins’ care and rehabilitation post-surgery.
Mr Joe Curry, Senior Consultant Neonatal and Specialist Paediatric Surgeon at GOSH, led the separation of Zayne and Zion and expressed his joy at seeing the twins and their families come together to celebrate their progress.
He emphasised GOSH’s unique advantage with its multidisciplinary teams capable of providing the best care for conjoined twins.
Among the attendees were Ruby and Rosie, who were born conjoined but successfully separated at GOSH when they were just a few hours old.
Rosie and Ruby, now 11 years old, found the event ‘heart-warming’ as they met other twins who shared similar experiences.
They expressed their gratitude to the medical staff who played a pivotal role in giving them a new lease on life.
Their mother, Angela, also found solace in the event, having felt isolated during the initial stages of her journey with conjoined twins.
She underscored the importance of connecting with other families who have undergone similar experiences.
Hassan and Hussein, the oldest twins at the event, had been separated at four months of age and have since excelled in various aspects of their lives.
They dream of becoming Paralympians, having already represented Ireland in the DSE games, bringing home gold and silver medals.
They enjoy indoor wall climbing and aim to inspire other twins facing similar challenges.
Angie, their mother, has become a source of support and guidance for other families going through the process of pregnancy and childbirth with conjoined twins.
GOSH Charity has been instrumental in supporting cutting-edge research, allowing GOSH to lead the way in treating conjoined twins.
This includes raising £300,000 to fund innovative techniques such as virtual reality, 3D planning and printing, which have been pivotal in the success of conjoined twin separation surgeries.
The funds have also contributed to the Morgan Stanley Clinical Building, which houses Theatre 10, a specialised operating theatre equipped with the necessary space and technology to facilitate life-saving surgeries.
