Mr Edward Kiely - We must invest in our potential
The twins, who were born conjoined on December 2, 2009, were successfully separated last month. They were transferred from intensive care earlier this month, and Mr Kiely says they are likely to leave hospital in the next couple of days.
Their separation was a massive undertaking. They shared many organ and bones, which necessitated the division of liver, intestine and bone in a 14-hour operation, involving a medical team, 20 strong.
Younger generations may take such medical advances for granted, but the older generation will remember a time when such a feat would have been classed in the miracle category. It is not so long ago when tuberculosis was the scourge of this country, and it should be remembered that the Mother and Child Bill was introduced here in 1951 because Ireland had one of the highest infant mortality rates in Europe. But by the turn of the century, however, this country had the lowest infant mortality rate in the world. It is important that we should keep such advances in perspective.
The Benhaffaf twins had to go to England for the surgery at the Great Ormond Street Hospital. The operation was so specialised that no medical team in Ireland had the necessary experience, whereas it was the 22nd operation separating conjoined twins performed by the team at the London hospital.
This country still had a magnificent input into the operation. Ed Kiely, the surgeon in charge of the operating team, studied medicine in UCC and went on to train at the Mercy Hospital in Cork as well as the Mater Hospital and Trinity College in Dublin.
The uplifting story is a reminder that, despite setbacks, life has really changed much for the better in this country.
It should also keep us focused on the need for a well-resourced health system, because it makes a huge difference to the daily lives of not just the elderly but the youngest too.
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