Conjoined twin baby dies after separation
One of the conjoined twins born to an 18-year-old British woman has died after an operation to separate them, doctors said today.
London's Great Ormond Street Hospital said week-old Hope Williams had died shortly after the procedure to divide her from her sister Faith.
"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," said surgeon Agostino Pierro.
"They are clearly devastated by the loss of their daughter and we offer them our deepest condolence on their loss."
Laura Williams from Shrewsbury gave birth to the girls last Wednesday at University College Hospital in London.
They were joined from their breast bone to their navel and shared circulatory systems as well as a liver.
Surgeons had brought forward the separation to Tuesday after the health of the babies deteriorated.
Professor Pierro, head of the surgical team that conducted the operation, said there had been a blockage in the twins' joined intestine which could only be resolved by a separation.
More than 20 staff were involved in the procedure.
He said baby Faith was stable and receiving support for her breathing and was gradually improving.
"However, it is early days and complications can occur," he said. (Reporting by Tim Castle)
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monica muscat
Dec 3rd 2008, 13:22
This story and the death of the twin really touched me, and my prayers go for the parents. My prayers of support are forthcoming because it is known that these loving parents knew about the condition of the babies well before their birth. The only solution they could be offered was an abortion. They refused, because they felt that they could not refuse God's gift of life. How is that to our Maltese pro-abortionilsts?