Little Fighters come home ahead of schedule
The five-month-olds from East Cork, who were born last December joined at the chest, underwent a complex 14-hour operation to separate them at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) on April 7.
But the boys, who have been dubbed the little fighters by their parents, Angie and Azzedine, have stunned medics with the speed of their recovery and will be discharged this morning.
“All the prayers were answered and we thank God that it’s all six of us returning home,” Angie said.
“Hassan and Hussein have gone through so much in their young lives already and now we hope that we can give them the happy future they both deserve.
“We again thank the public for their overwhelming love and support and the media for respecting our privacy and being so sensitive.
“Thank you to the surgeons and staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital for giving our boys the incredible gift of separate lives.”
She also thanked University College Hospital, London and Cork University Maternity Hospital who all shared in the boys’ care.
“As tough as the past year has been for all of us, we feel so much good has come out of this experience,” she said.
“Hassan and Hussein have brought out the best in everyone and reminded us all of the things that are important in life, which is family, unconditional love and above all, hope.”
Consultant paediatric surgeon Edward Kiely, who led the team which separated the boys, said the hospital is delighted the family can return home.
“We now have two very independent little boys with every chance of a great future,” he said.
“When the twins came into the operating theatre for separation they were joined from the chest to the pelvis.
“The operation itself turned out to be fairly straightforward. Their hearts were not joined, but nearly everything else was, that includes the liver, gut and bladder, all of which we separated.
“The boys also had one leg each, as that is how they were made. We have been very pleased with their recovery process and how they have thrived post separation.”
The Benhaffhaf family are due to be flown home by the Aer Corps today, touching down at Cork Airport this afternoon.
The twins will then be whisked by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where doctors there will continue to monitor their recovery.
* Donations to the Little Fighters Fund can be made through Permanent TSB, St Patrick’s Street, Cork (Sort Code: 99-07-03. Account No: 16556196).
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