Janet CollinsSeparate Lives
December 2nd 2009 05:32
Trishna now learning to eat
A story that still fascinates me is the one about the separation of the two Bangladeshi twins, Krishna and Trishna recently at the Royal Melbourne Children’s Hospital.
After writing about it last week, I read even more about this wonderful achievement and heard a really interesting interview on ABC radio from one of the head surgeons of the operation. He spoke of the long road ahead for both of them for physical as well as emotional recovery.
First there was the moment in the last day or so when the two twins actually had seen each other for the first time. I hadn’t thought of that before but the way they had been joined left them facing in opposite directions. Then, just as most kids do, they had been used to punching each other. This, they were still trying to do without being about to touch the other one, something that was both surprising and confusing to both of them.
Then there are the physical recoveries. Trishna, the twin who awoke first, had not eaten before, having relied totally upon her twin, Krishna for nourishment. Within days of the operation, Trishna was eating small pieces of bread and fruit.
Krishna, who was brought out of a medically-induced coma a few days ago, is now doing well but the medical team are fully aware of the hurdles ahead of them such as learning to walk and adapting to their new separate states.
It is a wonderful story of a medical team who have changed the lives of two little girls. I saw no real grab for attention from any of these brilliant medicos. Quite the reverse – all of them have been incredibly humble about this medical success and very reluctant to boast success too prematurely.
Comments on the ABC site suggested they all deserved “Order of Australia” awards and I could not agree more.
Sourced: www.abc.net.au
Image credit: www.abc.net.au
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