Benhaffaf twin needs spinal surgery until he turns 18

Formerly conjoined twin Hassan Benhaffaf will require regular spinal surgery until he is an adult, his mother Angie has revealed.

The two-year-old spent time apart from his brother Hussein for the first time earlier this year when he underwent surgery at Crumlin Children’s Hospital to straighten his spine.

However, the toddler, from Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, suffers from a more serious form of scoliosis than his brother as a result of abnormally developed vertebrae.

Surgeons have told his parents that he will require surgery every six months up to the age of 18.

It means the Little Fighters could be parted again as soon as next month when Hassan returns to Crumlin for his second spinal operation.

But mum Angie, who has two older daughters, said she had every confidence the years of surgery ahead would benefit her son in the long run.

“Unfortunately Hassan will need surgery until he’s 18. It was very sad for us to hear that, but long term it will be better for him,” she said.

“He’s been through so much and, like his brother, overcome so many other obstacles, that I’ve no doubt he’ll get through this.”

Angie, 38, also revealed that the family faced a worrying 12-month wait for last April’s operation, which saw Hassan become the youngest patient in the country to undergo the procedure.

She said both she and her husband Azzedine became increasingly worried for their son’s wellbeing as the curvature on Hassan’s spine worsened while they waited for confirmation of a date for surgery.

“We waited over a year for that surgery and his condition deteriorated in that time. His curve had got to 70 degrees, which is really bad. It was really frustrating, because the longer we waited, the worse his condition got.”

Although she said she couldn’t have more praise for the medical staff at Crumlin, she said the long waiting list Hassan was put on inspired her to devote what little spare time she has to helping other sick children get the surgery they need straight away.

She has teamed up with the hospital’s charity, Straight Ahead, which was set up to provide free spinal surgery for Irish children on unacceptably long waiting lists.

And just two weeks ago her efforts at organising an event in Bunnyconnellan, near Myrtleville, Co Cork, raised €4,000 for the charity, to which doctors and nurses give up their time and skills for free.

She added: “I will do this annually for Straight Ahead. It’s a brilliant charity and because of them, 10 children who would not have had surgery have had their operations. I’ve also things lined up with Enable Ireland and Penny Dinners in Cork too.”

“I believe you get out of this world what you give and I count myself as very lucky. The boys have continued to surprise me and everyone with their amazing progress. They’re as happy as ever and doing everything they should be doing.”

The twins were joined from the chest to the pelvis and given virtually no hope of survival when they were born on Dec 2, 2009.

They were separated during a marathon 14-hour operation in London in Apr 2010 and have since been undergoing intensive physiotherapy to help them walk.

Although they’re making strong progress, Angie added that the day she dreams of — seeing her boys walk unaided for the first time — is still “a long way off”.