MANILA: As two-year-old conjoined twins Olivia and Gianna Manuel prepare for separation surgery on Thursday, their parents are filled with hope that it will give them a childhood and life like other children.
Born in Nueva Ecija in the central Philippines in April 2024, the girls are joined from the chest to the abdomen, a condition known as omphalopagus.
They were accepted into the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program in July last year, when their mother reached out to the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.
In January, after numerous steps of medical qualification, the girls and their parents flew to Riyadh, where they have been under the care of the team of Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, one of the world’s most renowned pediatric surgeons.
A day ahead of the life-changing surgery, the girls’ mother, Ginalyn Manuel, told Arab News how she was nervous, excited and happy at the same time.
“It’s a mix of emotions. I’m excited because once they’re finally separated, they’ll be able to move around freely. They’ll be able to run ... They will be able to live a normal life,” she said.
“I can hardly sleep, especially now that there’s only one day left before the surgery. I’m just so excited ... This has always been our biggest dream for them. I never would have imagined that we’d come all the way here. This is the fulfillment of our dream for our children.”
The girls’ mother first learned about the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program when she followed social media updates on another pair of Filipino twins to undergo separation surgery in Saudi Arabia.
The Kingdom is known as a pioneer in the field of separation surgery. Since 1990, Dr. Al-Rabeeah and his team have separated 140 conjoined twins from 27 countries.
Olivia and Gianna will remain in their care after the separation procedure, also since Gianna will need to undergo additional heart surgery.
“The doctors want to make sure the twins are completely healed and healthy before we return to the Philippines. The doctors here are exceptional. They give you so much peace of mind, you feel like you don’t have to worry about anything,” the girls’ mother said.
“From the moment they picked us up at the airport on Jan. 26 and brought us to the hospital, I felt how warmly they welcomed us ... They constantly lift our spirits and give us strength. The staff and nurses are so kind. They treat my children as if they were their own.”
The Manuel twins are the fourth pair of Filipino conjoined twins under the care of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program.
“When they grow up and are old enough to understand, we’ll tell them about their journey — from being conjoined twins to finally being separated. We’ll encourage them that if they become successful someday, they should also help others,” their mother said.
“We want them to grow up kind and willing to help others because in their lifetime, they were blessed to receive tremendous help.”
The first pair of Filipino conjoined twins separated by Dr. Al-Rabeeah’s team were Ann and Mae Manzo, who were joined at the abdomen, pelvis and perineum. Their procedure took place in March 2004.
They were followed by Akhizah and Ayeesha Yusoph, who were joined at the lower chest and abdomen and shared one liver. They were separated in September 2024.
The third pair of Filipino conjoined twins, Maurice Ann and Klea Misa, who were joined at the head, underwent their surgery in April this year.
