'Two little fighters' leave hospital in Cork

THE PARENTS of conjoined twins born before Christmas yesterday introduced their new arrivals to the world as they posed for photographs before being discharged from Cork University Maternity Hospital where they’ve been treated for the past few weeks.

Corkwoman Angie Benhaffaf and her Algerian-born husband Azzedine posed yesterday for photographs with tiny Hassan and Hussein, along with the couple’s other children, Malika (4) and Iman (2), and thanked the public for their support.

“We very much appreciate the positive response to our request for privacy from the media and the public, but we also know that there is genuine interest in the progress of our ‘two little fighters’,” the parents said in a statement.

“We have taken the decision to issue this photo of our family as we head for home in east Cork. We again hope that our privacy at home will be fully respected as we enjoy what will be a very special time for us as a family before we return to London for the boys’ separation later this year.

“We also wish to record our gratitude to all the truly wonderful staff in Cork University Maternity Hospital for the care and attention they have lavished on ourselves and the boys.”

The two little boys were born seven weeks ago at University College Hospital in London, but returned in late December to Cork University Maternity Hospital, where they’ve responded well to care and have gained weight to the point where they are now fit for discharge.

The twins are expected to return to London within the next few months to undergo a separation procedure at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

It is understood the twins are conjoined at the chest area but don’t share any vital organs, making separation possible.

Leading the surgical team is Cork-born paediatric surgeon Edward Kiely. Mr Kiely said Great Ormond Street Hospital was the most experienced centre in Europe for the management and, if necessary, the separation of conjoined twins, with the teams having dealt with 21 separations and nine inoperable cases to date.

“Separation is best carried out at a tertiary centre with the full range of specialties on hand. We have the two most experienced surgeons in the UK in this work leading a team of expert nurses, doctors and other health professionals, providing the full range of expertise needed.”

Mr Kiely said the survival rate at Great Ormond Street Hospital for planned separations where the children are stable and separation can be done at a suitable time is about 80 per cent, and under these circumstances both twins usually survive and have a good quality of life.