SEPARATED TWINS Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf left the intensive care unit at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London at the weekend and are now in a surgical ward.
They are breathing unaided and being bottle-fed. Doctors continue to be pleased with their progress and recovery. The boys were yesterday placed in a cot together for the first time since they underwent separation surgery last month.
Parents Angie and Azzedine Benhaffaf said the “little fighters” were “living up to their name”.
“We’ve enjoyed our first cuddles since their separation and they were worth the long wait. The boys were reunited for the first time today and it was very emotional to see them back together, in each other’s arms.
“It feels just like a miracle and we cannot believe we got our happy ending.”
Mr and Mrs Benhaffaf thanked the public for their continued support and said the boys’ sisters Malika (4) and Iman (2) are getting used to their brothers being apart and are looking forward to holding each of the twins.
Hassan and Hussein were successfully separated following surgery in London on April 7th.
The baby brothers, from Carrigtwohill in east Cork, were born in December at University College London Hospital. They spent a few months in the family home with their parents and siblings before the surgery.
On an ITV-commissioned documentary to be shown on TV3 tonight, Mrs Benhaffaf said she was looking forward to a bright future with her sons.
“Now I will do everything for them until the end. I will never give up. The only thing I want to do is make them happy.
“When we saw them in each cot, it was so weird. It was normal to see them joined and it was strange to see them apart.”
“I think to be chosen to be the mum of conjoined twins is a very rare and beautiful gift – they’re like a true miracle.”
Separate Livesis on TV3 this evening at 7.30 pm.