LOVE AND PRINCE CAN STAND, ONE DAY WILL RUN TO SCHOOL

Conjoined twins ready for discharge from Wadia hospital

After six weeks of surgery, conjoined twins Love and Prince are ready for discharge from Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for children, Parel. Love and Prince were conjoined at the abdomen and hip. Three organs -- liver, intestine and urinary bladder - were common to both.

A senior doctor said they had gone through an uneventful but long postoperative recovery. They were on ventilator for a week and in ICU for three weeks. “Wound management was an ordeal as abdomen was kept open, only covered by mesh; they had to go multiple dressings under anesthesia with vacuum dressings, collagen applications and recovered miraculously without any complications,” added the doctor who treated the twins.

He further added the wounds have almost healed and the children no longer have to share diapers; in fact, they won’t be needing diapers as they have control over urine and stools other children of their age have.

The parents were overjoyed to see the babies standing with support, albeit with a deformed gait; more important, they are getting discharged and are hale and hearty.

“A multidisciplinary rehab program has been designed for their follow up, which is going to monitor their growth, development, nutrition, liver function, immunisation and exercise regime for lower limbs. One more surgery after a year or so for bony reconstruction (osteotomies) with revision of abdominal closure, and they will be ready to

literally run for school,” added doctor.

Dr Minnie Bodhanwala, CEO, Wadia Hospitals, said operating on the twins was a big challenge for the doctors’ team. “These babies are now being given physiotherapy; they will be called in for a follow up soon,” added Bodhanwala.