Siamese twins may soon be ready for separation

SIAMESE twins Carl and Clarence Aguirre celebrated their second birthday at a New York hospital, scooting around on a mat with other children, clapping their hands to music and receiving separate birthday cakes.

The other children at Blythedale Children’s Hospital wore party hats, but Carl and Clarence, still joined at the tops of their heads, wore a bandage covering the area where surgeons have been working for six months to convert a tangle of blood vessels into separate circulation systems for independent lives.

Doctors and therapists have said the Filipino twins have been showing that they are ready for separation. One will sleep while the other’s awake; one will play while the other cries; and they fight over toys.

“The boys will race each other to get to a toy first,” said Julie Knitter, Blythedale’s director of occupational therapy. “If they do get there at the same time, they will play tug of war until someone lets go.”

Barbara Milch, the director of physical therapy, said the twins had learned to work together to get into a semi-standing position in their crib. “They’re eager to experience the world upright,” she said.

“Both children are doing extremely well,” said Dr. James Goodrich, who leads the surgical team. “No neurological complications or issues have developed.”

But the doctors, maintaining the gradual approach that was chosen over a single marathon operation, said it will still be months before they can perform the long-awaited surgery that separates the boys.