TWINS HASSAN and Hussein Benhaffaf, who were born conjoined, have been successfully separated in surgery which lasted 14 hours. Their mother said the pair had “won the battle of their lives”.
In a statement released by Great Ormond Street Hospital in London yesterday, consultant paediatric surgeon Dr Edward Kiely said he was delighted with the outcome of the surgery.
“I can confirm that the twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf have been separated in a 14-hour operation yesterday. The twins are in intensive care and are sedated but stable. We are pleased with how the operation went.”
The twins’ mother Angie Benhaffaf said she found it hard to summon the words to convey the relief she felt she at the outcome of the surgery to separate the boys.
“The sun is shining today for our two little fighters, who have won the battle of their lives. Words cannot express the relief and love we feel for our two boys.
“We thank God, we thank the surgeons and the gifted team at Great Ormond Street Hospital and we thank from the bottom of our hearts the Irish nation and everyone who prayed for our beloved twins. We are so proud of the courage and strength that Hassan and Hussein have shown and they both have made the world a much better place with them in it.”
About 20 staff, including four anaesthetists and four surgeons led by Cork-born Dr Kiely, worked in shifts during the complex procedure, which began at 8.30am on Wednesday. Great Ormond Street Hospital is the most experienced centre in Europe for such surgery, with the teams having dealt with 21 separations and nine inoperable cases to date.
The twins were conjoined at the chest but did not share any vital organs, making separation possible. The care of the babies has been shared between Cork University Maternity Hospital and Great Ormond Street.
They were born in December at University College London Hospital. They were admitted to hospital on Tuesday having spent the last few weeks in London with their parents, Angie and Azzedine, and siblings Malika (4) and Iman (2).
The Benhaffafs, from Carrigtwohill in east Cork, have thanked the public for their support and prayers over the last few months. The boys are expected to be in hospital for the coming weeks and the family will remain in London for as long as the babies are there.
Conjoined twins are identical twins whose bodies are joined in utero. The occurrence is estimated to range from one in 50,000 births to one in 200,000 births, with a somewhat higher incidence in parts of Asia and Africa. The condition is more frequently found among females, with a ratio of 3-1.
Despite facing financial pressures over the condition, the Benhaffafs turned down substantial offers to sell their story, but fundraising continues. The Little Fighters Fundraising account is at the Permanent TSB’s Patrick Street branch in Cork, sort code 99- 07-03, account number 16556196.