JP/1/TWINS

JP/1/TWINS

Twins Anggi and Angeli return home

Apriadi Gunawan
The Jakarta Post/Medan

Conjoined twins Anggi and Angeli returned home on Monday after
they were successfully separated at Singapore's Gleneagles
Hospital in May. The two babies, who were born in Pematang
Siantar, North Sumatra on Feb. 11 last year, arrived at 11.30
a.m. at Polonia Airport in Medan.

The infants seemed healthy. They were placed in baby
strollers, and escorted by their parents and doctors from
Singapore.

The arrival of the infants drew the attention of the public
and journalists, who had been following the story of the twin's
separation for some months. People -- journalists amongst them --
jostled to see the children when they arrived at Polonia Airport.

The infants were then taken to their parent's home in
Serbelawan, North Sumatra.

"It's a miracle. Without the surgery and grace from God, the
twins would not have survived," said Sobari, their father. The
surgery in Singapore was funded by Medan businessman, Olo
Panggabean.

The children, who were conjoined at the hip and have one leg
each and shared a third, were first brought to hospitals in
Jakarta, but were then dispatched to Gleneagles Hospital for
surgery.

They were finally separated on May 21. A team of 16 people
carried out the surgical operation that took 10 hours to
complete.

The success of the operation has come as a great relief to the
parents, as surgery to separate conjoined twins is very complex
and high risk, and requires the services of dozens of doctors of
various fields of expertise.

Sobari was aware that the months ahead will be tough as he and
his wife Harmaini shouldered the responsibility to take care of
the children. But they are optimistic that they can do it.

The elated Sobari has even done some long-term planning for
the children to provide them with artificial legs.

"But, we will wait until they are aged 15 or 16, then we'll
give them the artificial legs," said Sobari.