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One Siamese twin dies after emergency op lasts 12 hours
ANNA DAVIS03.12.08
Surviving conjoined twin Faith Williams was in a stable condition today after the death of her sister Hope.
Surgeon Professor Agostino Pierro said she still required breathing support but was "gradually improving", after he led a 12-hour operation to separate the twins.
Professor Pierro added: "I think the next few days will be particularly important to tell us how Faith is doing. I would say she is 50:50. If everything goes well and all the complications are well treated then she could have a normal life."
The doctor, who is Nuffield Professor of Paedriatric Surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital, said the lungs of smaller twin Hope had not been large enough for her to survive.
She and Faith were moved to separate theatres after surgery but her lungs gave out shortly afterwards.
The twins' parents, Laura Williams, 18, and her husband Aled, 28, were with Hope as she died.
A team of more than 20 experts led by Professor Pierro carried out the emergency surgery on the twins after a blockage was discovered in their joined intestines.
The doctors would normally have waited until the baby girls, who had a combined weight of 10lb 8oz, were older and stronger before operating, but knew there was a risk that emergency surgery would be needed because the sisters shared a circulatory system.
Faith and Hope, who were joined from the breastbone to the top of the navel but had separate hearts, were born last Wednesday by Caesarean section at University College Hospital, London. They were taken into theatre at 9am yesterday.
Professor Pierro said: "We needed to operate because the children's health was going downhill.
"This was an emergency operation because there was a blockage in the joined intestines which could only be resolved through separation.
"The technical separation worked well - although it was extremely challenging - and went according to plan.Over 20 staff were involved, with the children moved into different theatres after separation was over.
"Very sadly, after separation, baby Hope's lungs proved too small to support her breathing and she died last night in the presence of her parents.
"They are clearly devastated by the loss of their daughter and we offer them our deepest condolences on their loss. Baby Faith is stable after separation. She requires support for her breathing but she is gradually improving.
"However, it is early days and complications can occur." Baby Faith was expected to remain at Great Ormond Street for several weeks.
A spokesman for the hospital told the Standard: "She is a premature baby who has had a major operation."
The girls' parents say they are praying for Faith's survival. The couple from Shrewsbury, who have another daughter, 18-month-old Carly, gave the go-ahead for surgery after the twins' condition deteriorated on Monday night.
A team of general surgeons, cardiologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, intensive care surgeons, radiologists, and nurses had been on standby for the operation since the birth.
The sisters' hearts had significant congenital abnormalities. They shared large blood vessels and were joined at the liver and intestine. Mrs Williams was "distraught" the night Hope died, her brother said today.
Warren Rackham, 20, said she was overcome with anxiety about what would happen to Faith and Hope just hours before the operation. Speaking as he visited his mother Wendy's home in Shrewsbury, Mr Rackham said: "She was distraught because she didn't know what was going to happen."
Mrs Williams made medical history by becoming the world's youngest mother of conjoined twins.
She and her husband Aled, a dustman, had been advised by doctors to have an abortion but they refused.
Speaking shortly after the birth Mrs Williams said: "They wheeled me in to see them. They had tucked Hope's arm underneath and it was Faith's arm that I could see. I took her hand and she was grasping my hand. They were both blowing bubbles. They were so beautiful. After everything everyone said, I'm so glad to have proved them wrong."
Reader views (16)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
well Scott, I have seen and heard it all now, does it matter what age the parents are, they are a loving couple enjoying their children and their faith and my condolences to both parents and family. Scott you must have a heart of stone with no empathy for human life, please god, you never have to endure loosing a child
- Sammie, australia, karratha
I pray for the survival of Faith and send my condolences to the family over the sad loss of Hope.
As for the comments made by Scott and Suzyd I can't understand how eiither of you can be so heartless and judgmental. In this day and age with everyting you see in the press age is the last thing that determines a good parent. This young couple made a very brave decision in deciding to give their daughters a chance at life, a chance that many older parents would not have found the courage to give.
My love and prayers go out to the whole family.
- Donna, London
Wow Scott what an awful comment to make...people are perfectly entitiled to start a family after their 16th birthday..I have so much respect and admiration for this couple...they could have, like many would have, terminated this pregnancy and in going through with it and dealing with everything that they have, they have acted way more maturely than other people twice their age. And another thing - the parents are not 18, the mother is but the father is 28. I am praying for you both and your suviving daughter.
- Nick Brown, london
I hope that Faith survives and that the doctors are able to give her a good quality of life.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford England
Come on Scott what difference does it make that she is only 18? She is clearly a mature woman in a stable relationship who refused to abort her daughters when the medical establishment was advising her otherwise. This cannot be an easy decision to make whether you are 18, 28 or 38 and she has clearly demonstrated a maturity sadly lacking in some mothers twice her age. She gave her daughters a chance at life and i hope that little Faith will live to stand as a testement to the faith her parents had in her and her little sister.
- Jo B, London
Scott B, what a horrible comment to make. I pray that you never lose a child.
- Sarah, sussex
I am very sorry to hear about the loss of baby Hope and am praying for baby Faith. Whether 'the' girl, as Scott so kindly put it is 18 or not is irrelevant. I am thinking of Laura and Aled in this difficult time.
- Emma, London
My heart goes out to both parents, and I pray Faith will pull through.
Scott B, Surely it doesn't matter how many children the woman has, or may have in the future, or what age she is. Its still heartbreaking to lose a child.
- Smb, London, UK
To Scott B of London,
Don't judge people you know nothing about Scott.
- Selwyn Channon, epsom
Scott B - what a dreadful thing to say. Who are you to judge when a loving, married couple should bring a child into the world? My heart goes out to them.
- Tam, London
This girl, as you put it, was married with a loving husband and has every right to have a many kids as she wants. Please don't make comment like that when you do not as I don't know all the circumstances. She decided not to terminate them and is now going through the trauma of losing one. May Hope rest in peace and may Faith survive. Prayers to the family.
Karen, London
- Karenf, London
Scott B - as far as i am aware it is perfectly legal for a girl to have sex, and reproduce, if she wishes to, at the age of 16 - i am having trouble in understanding your point
- Noel, Stockwell
Those babies had little chance of surviving in the first place. The parents are young, too young to even begin to imagine the difficulties of bringing up siamese twins. Life is hard enough for normal children, what chance would Hope and Faith have had in the real world? And what effect coping with these children might eventually have on the parents' marriage?
- Suzyd, Paris
Scott do you really need to point out that the parents are only 18? The loss of a child for ANY parent, regardless of age is devestating, I think its irrelevant. This poor couple have lost a child and I think we should focus on that.
- Helen F, London
Nice one Scott. The woman's just lost child. Now's not the time for you to ride around on your moral high horse.
- Jim, London
Very sad news. Losing a child is a horrific thing to happen.
However, why was this girl even pregnant in the first place? I read that she's still only 18, but has a child who is 18 months old!
I pray that the surviving child pulls through, but I can't help but ask myself when she'll be producing yet more children?
- Scott B, London
