Kerala - Kollam   

Siamese twins die after five months

Staff Reporter

Babies had their thorax and abdomen joined

ONE LAST LOOK: Sabeela with the bodies of Fatima and Amina on her lap, in Kollam on Thursday.

KOLLAM: The Siamese twins born to Sabeela, 21, last November died on Thursday morning. The twins, Amina and Fatima, who had their thorax and abdomen joined, come under the medical category of thoraco omphalo phagus conjoined twins.

They were born at the Government Victoria Hospital for Women through a caesarean operation.

Soon after the birth, the twins had been admitted to the Sree Avittom Thirunaal (SAT) Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram for more medical attention. After a week's comprehensive post-natal medical treatment, they were discharged.

The birth of the conjoined twins put Sabeela in a difficult situation. Hailing from a poor family at Panmana, near here, her husband deserted her when she was seven months pregnant. She said he simply disappeared and his whereabouts were not known. But with the help of her family members and neighbours, she brought up the children pretty well. The twins who continued to be under the treatment at the SAT Hospital were taken there regularly as directed by the doctors.

Single heart

Scanning conducted at the SAT Hospital showed that Fatima and Amina shared a single heart. However, the doctors had said then that another scanning would be necessary after five months to give a final conclusion whether it was a single heart or a fusion of two hearts. That scanning was fixed for April 26.

The health condition of the babies was otherwise fine. But late yesterday night, Amina's temperature started rising and she began suffering from shortness of breath. At that time Fatima was normal. This morning, though Amina continued breathing, her eyes remained closed and she appeared pale. Fatima too began having respiratory problems. Sabeela rushed them to a private hospital.

But doctors declared the twins dead on arrival. By noon both were laid to rest at the nearby Porukara mosque cemetery.

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