The cojoined twin sisters Dwi Ningshi and Anugrah from Indonesia
A cojoined twin sisters joined at the waist, who also share a heart
are defying all odds and growing up fast, learning the tricks to live
happily.
are defying all odds and growing up fast, learning the tricks to live
happily.
Dwi Ningsih and Anugrah from Garut regency in West Java in Indonesia were born joined at the waist.
The four-year-old sisters have fully formed pair of arms but only
two legs and one deformed leg dangling down their waist and share same
stomach.
two legs and one deformed leg dangling down their waist and share same
stomach.
While doctors have ruled out any possibility of a surgery to
separate the twins as they share one heart, the adorable toddlers are
defying all odds and growing up fast, learning the tricks to live
happily.
separate the twins as they share one heart, the adorable toddlers are
defying all odds and growing up fast, learning the tricks to live
happily.
“They love to race with their big brother. They are surprisingly very fast.
“They are very active kids and do not sit for a moment and crawl in the whole house.
“They love to draw, watch TV,compete against each other while
wearing clothes and sing together. They rarely play outside the home as
kids are scared of them,” says mother Yani.
wearing clothes and sing together. They rarely play outside the home as
kids are scared of them,” says mother Yani.
Yani, 30 and her husband Iwan Kurniawan, 34, who also have a
ten-year-old son named Rendy Hermawan, were thrilled to know about the
second pregnancy.
ten-year-old son named Rendy Hermawan, were thrilled to know about the
second pregnancy.
However, the couple were unaware that Yani was carrying twins until
the doctors find that out minutes before the delivery and performed a
cesarean section.
the doctors find that out minutes before the delivery and performed a
cesarean section.
She said: “I did not have an ultrasound done and because my
first born was healthy, I did not go for routine checkups. It was only
before the delivery that doctors found out that I was carrying Siamese
twins and told me natural birth would not be possible.
first born was healthy, I did not go for routine checkups. It was only
before the delivery that doctors found out that I was carrying Siamese
twins and told me natural birth would not be possible.
“The first time I saw them, I was so shocked. I did not expect I
was carrying twins and that they would look like that. I could not
believe my eyes and wondered why were they joined together!
was carrying twins and that they would look like that. I could not
believe my eyes and wondered why were they joined together!
“When my son saw his sisters, he felt sorry. He requested us to
ask doctors to separate them so he could take them into his arms.”
ask doctors to separate them so he could take them into his arms.”
Still shocked with the birth of their Siamese twins, the parents
consulted doctors if a surgery can separate the girls but their hopes
shattered when they were told that babies share only one heart and a
surgery can result in casualty.
consulted doctors if a surgery can separate the girls but their hopes
shattered when they were told that babies share only one heart and a
surgery can result in casualty.
Conjoined twins occur when the zygote, the initial cell formed by sexual reproduction, fails to completely separate.
It is believe to occur in roughly one in every 50,000 births, but
just one per cent make it to their first birthday and two-thirds are
stillborn.
just one per cent make it to their first birthday and two-thirds are
stillborn.
Kurniawan said: ”After going through several examinations the
doctor declared they were unable to perform an operation because the
twins have only one heart and that we could lose both of them if a
surgery is performed.
doctor declared they were unable to perform an operation because the
twins have only one heart and that we could lose both of them if a
surgery is performed.
“We did not want to lose any of our child so we agreed with the
doctor and brought them home with the hopes of raising them up
happily.”
doctor and brought them home with the hopes of raising them up
happily.”
Yani and Kurniawan have gone extents, dedicating their lives to
give their daughters a comfortable life. But as they are growing up, the
parents, who have to depend on donations, are finding it hard to raise
them up.
give their daughters a comfortable life. But as they are growing up, the
parents, who have to depend on donations, are finding it hard to raise
them up.
Kurniawan said: “It was hard for Yani to take care of the three
children. I had to be there to give my helping hand which meant I could
not devote much time in work. I was asked to leave.
children. I had to be there to give my helping hand which meant I could
not devote much time in work. I was asked to leave.
“Since then I am employed and are completely relying on donations.
“While we hope it would be good if they can be separated but as
it is not possible, we can only hope that they survive for as long as
possible.
it is not possible, we can only hope that they survive for as long as
possible.
“I only want to get a job so I can look after my children and meet their needs. I cannot live off the donors forever.”