Conjoined twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf were separated by doctors but heartwarming photo shows they are still together

By Daily Mail Reporter

Hand in hand: Hassan and Hussein Benfaffaf lie hand in hand, just as they did in the womb, after the 14-hour operation to separate them
Their clasped hands mimic a pose caught on their 24-week scan, which showed their fingers firmly entwined in the womb.


They may have been separated by surgeons but, as this heartwarming picture shows, they are determined to face the world together.

Pictured after the operation to part them, conjoined twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf lie hand in hand, just as they did in the womb.

The five-month-old boys returned home on Friday, seven weeks after they were separated by surgeons at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Their mother, Angie, 36, of East Cork in southern Ireland, has told of her joy at their rapid recovery, with even the simplest of things bringing enormous pleasure.

Mrs Benhaffaf, who also has two daughters, told the News of the World: 'One of the most beautiful things was being able to go into the shops and buy stuff for Hassan and Hussein.

'Before, I would see lovely T-shirts and not be able to put them on the boys because they were conjoined.'

But having two bundles of joy instead of one also has its drawbacks.

Their mother said: 'It's difficult now there's two of them. They were easier to feed hold and clothe. We have to work harder now.'


Bonded: The twins' clasped hands mimic a pose caught on their 24-week scan, which showed their fingers firmly entwined in the womb


The amazing story started last summer, when a 12-week scan revealed that not only was Mrs Benfaffaf carrying twins, but they were conjoined.

Later scans revealed that they had two hearts - greatly increasing their chances of survival - and showed the boys holding hands in the womb.

Born last December at London's University College Hospital, Hassan had his arm around his brother.

The boys then returned to Ireland to build up their strength for April's gruelling 14-hour operation at Great Ormond Street, during which more than 20 medics, including four surgeons and four anaesthetists worked in shifts to separate them.

Although the boys each had their own heart, the organs shared the same safety 'sac', making the op more complex.

Their liver, gut, bladder and pelvis also had to be separated. They have one leg each and are likely to be fitted with prosthetic limbs in the future.


Hope: Before the operation scans revealed that they had two hearts - greatly increasing their chances of survival - and showed the boys holding hands in the womb


Now, just seven weeks on, they are back in their own home.

Their speedy recovery has astonished medics, who expected them to spend up to four months recuperating in hospital.

Edward Kiely, the consultant who led the team which separated the boys and a world expert in the procedure, said: 'For babies who were joined over such an extensive area, they have recovered much faster than is usually the case.

'I don't think we've ever been in a position to discharge babies like this within a couple of months. We're delighted.'

Mrs Benhaffaf, whose Algerian-born husband Azzedine has left his job as a chef to help care for his sons, said: 'I know they are going to do amazingly well.

'They'll do everything these boys. I've always called them my little fighters.

'We now look forward to spending time as a family and recovering from the trauma we have all been through the past year.

'Hassan and Hussein have shown us that miracles do still happen and dreams do come true.'

source: dailymail