Benhaffaf twins all set for their first day at big school
But it will be a different story for the devoted mum of former conjoined twins Hassan and Hussein, who admitted last night she’s dealing with “a million emotions”.
Angie Benhaffaf said tomorrow would be a huge milestone for her and her two five-year old boys.
“It seems like only yesterday that we were dealing with the birth, and the separation operation,” Angie said, as she prepared their school uniforms, school bags, pencil cases, and lunch boxes.
But after two years of Montessori school, she said the twins are ready to take the big step into big school.
The boys, who each have a prosthetic leg and who walk with the aid of a walking frame, are already writing their own names, counting, and reading time.
Angie said: “They have been counting down the days to starting big school. They just can’t wait. But I’m dealing with a million emotions. Excited and scared, but so, so, proud.”
Hassan and Hussein will be going to bed early tonight, to be up in time for their first day in national school.
They, along with up to 70 other boys and girls, will take up places in junior infants at the Midleton Educate Together NS in the east Cork town.
Their big sisters, Malika, 9, and Iman, 7, will be on hand to watch over them.
It is the latest milestone for the twins who had been born, joined at the chest, in London University Hospital in December 2009.
Dubbed “the little fighters”, they underwent a marathon 16-hour operation just four months later at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London to separate them.
About 20 medical staff, including four anaesthetists and four surgeons, worked in shifts during the complex procedure.
They defied all the odds to survive and were back home in Cork within weeks.
Despite having to undergo several operations over the years, and despite intensive and ongoing physiotherapy, the boys have thrived.
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