ANKARA: Pakistani twins Mirha and Minal, who were born with their heads fused together, were successfully separated in Turkey by a team of 60 medical professionals after a lengthy 14-hour surgery conducted in two phases, Anadolu news agency reported.
The surgery took place at Bilkent City Hospital in Ankara, following a response from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the family’s plea for help, as they could not find appropriate treatment in Pakistan.
The eleven-month-old girls traveled to Ankara in May and were placed under close medical supervision. The final 14-hour operation carried out on July 19, led by Dr. Jeelani alongside Turkish doctors Dr. Harun Demirci and Dr. Hasan Murat Ergani. Highlighting the collaborative effort involved, Namik Yasar Ozbek, head of the Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, stated, “The babies faced challenges with sitting and hand movements due to their conjoined condition.”
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He added, “After the surgery, our neurologists, physical therapists, and neurodevelopmental specialists worked to address these issues. The twins are now doing very well, starting to use their hands and arms and gaining head control. In ten days, they will celebrate their first birthdays separately.”
Turkish physician Ergani, a member of the surgical team, expressed immense joy at the twins’ recovery, saying, “When we successfully separated them, the entire medical team exchanged glances and applauded. This was one of the most special moments of my life.”
The twins’ parents, Rehan Ali and Nazia Parveen, conveyed their heartfelt gratitude to President Erdogan, the medical team, and all those involved in their daughters’ treatment. “We are extremely happy and indebted to everyone who contributed,” the father remarked, expressing their hope to personally thank Erdogan.
