Today Doctor's Will Finally Attempt to Separate Conjoined Twins

Conjoined Bhutanese twins, Nima and Dawa, are finally expected to undergo life-changing separation surgery today following weeks of preparation.

Surgeons at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital are confident the operation will go ahead today, with the 15-month-old girls thought to be strong enough for the six-hour procedure.

The operation will involve 18 medical staff, with each girl designated a separate team to care for her in theatre, plus nursing and anaesthetic support teams.

The girls are to undergo surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital after a fundraising effort by the Children First foundation, the Herald Sun reported.

The surgery was previously postponed as the girls were given extra nutritional support before their life-changing separation, shares AAP.

The Royal Children’s Hospital medical team overseeing their care say the 14-month-old sisters have responded well to treatment, but an extra period of nutrition support placed them in optimal health before the planned surgery.

conjoined twins

Their mother Bhumchu Zangmo, 38, said she has accepted that one of her daughters may die during the procedure.

‘I am very concerned for their future life, so I cannot think of not separating them.’ she said.

‘Even if surgery takes away one twin, I will be very happy for the other living twin. I am extremely happy that help has finally come. Not only happy, I am ecstatic now that surgery will be possible in Australia.’

Nima and Dawa are joined at the lower chest, and have been battling to survive.

Royal Children’s Hospital head of surgery Joe Cremaeri said he is confident both girls will survive the procedure.

‘On the best of the information we have at the moment I think we can offer them separation and I think we can offer them the ability to go home and live a normal life,’ he said.

Thinking of them all. We wish them both a successful operation x

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31 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 28 Nov 2022
    1:21 pm
How scary this must be for the parents. So scared that you are making the worng choices for your children. What a relief when it all works out.

- - mom101628 said
  - 13 Jan 2019
    9:36 pm
So wonderful that these girls survived and are now living separate but still loving lives. They are standing alone and crawling and generally getting on with life. Thank you the doctors here in Australia who work so tirelessly to help those children born overseas with problems.

- - mom112217 said
  - 14 Nov 2018
    3:36 pm
Wishing them all the best for the future.

- - Cookfromscratchmum said
  - 10 Nov 2018
    8:31 am
Hope they are doing well after the operation

- - mom90758 said
  - 09 Nov 2018
    6:23 pm
I’ve just read that the operation was a big success! What a relief!!!

- - mom90758 said
  - 09 Nov 2018
    6:07 pm
Fingers crossed that everything goes well!!

- - mom81879 said
  - 07 Nov 2018
    7:06 pm
I heard on the news today that the operation has been given the go ahead and re-scheduled soon. Happy news

- - BellaB said
  - 21 Oct 2018
    7:28 pm
It’s actually good news that their chances are being improved.
- mom93821 replied
  
  22 Oct 2018 , 6:34 am
  I agree – initially I was worried and then relieved that the op is still going ahead.
- - mom93821 said
  - 20 Oct 2018
    11:34 am
This is actually a good news story, rather than a sad one. Making sure the children have the best chance of success just makes sense. Good luck to them and the team!

- - rovermum said
  - 15 Oct 2018
    8:38 am
Caution is clearly the best policy at this stage to hopefully ensure the best and healthy outcome.

- - mom92472 said
  - 12 Oct 2018
    9:40 am
I hope for a happy and healthy outcome for the twins and the family.

- - Ellen said
  - 12 Oct 2018
    7:50 am
For a moment I thought that one twin had died, reading the title of this article. Relieved to know that isn’t the case. Bringing the twins in optimal health before the surgery, isn’t sad news to me, but a condition needed prior the operation.
- Amanda Holland replied
  
  12 Oct 2018 , 10:38 am
  I thought the same thing! I’m glad they are waiting a little longer though
- - Stef said
  - 12 Oct 2018
    7:47 am
I think that it’s actually great that they postpone the op, if it means these beautiful girls have a better chance at a great outcome. I wish them nothing but happiness and will continue to follow there journey

- - ~Loui~ said
  - 12 Oct 2018
    12:13 am
I don’t think that the update is ‘sad’. I think that it is awesome that they are in the hands of such a wonderful medical team, who are making sure that the girls are going to have the best chance at having a normal and healthy life. Even if that means waiting a couple more weeks so that they can gain strength from additional nutrition.

- - mom265671 said
  - 12 Oct 2018
    12:06 am
I hope we get an update on this. So terrifying and exciting at the thought of new hope for the girls