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.