Nia dies, gives her skin to her living twin sister

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Nia died on Friday, seven days after doctors at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta surgically separated her from her twin sister, Mia.

Meanwhile, Mia is still in a critical condition.

Sujatmiko, spokesman for the team of doctors that performed the operation, said on Friday that Nia passed away at 6:10 a.m. in the hospital's intensive care unit.

"Since 2 p.m. (on Thursday), she (Nia) suffered serious heart problems. We did our best. Her condition was better last night (Thursday night), but her heart problems recurred," he told a media conference on Friday.

"We (the team) tried to save her life up to 5:30 a.m., but her condition continued to deteriorate," he said, adding that her parents, Mulyadi and Nurlela, were at Nia's side when she passed away.

Doctors had told Mulyadi that the surgery was risky for Nia because she had serious heart problems.

Nia and Mia were born on March 22 and were joined at the stomach and chest.

Mulyadi and Nurlela live on Jl. Tanjung Lengkong, Jatinegara district, East Jakarta.

Mulyadi works as a construction worker an earns between Rp 25,000 (US$2.65) and Rp 40,000 per day.

The family is poor and were eligible for free health care from the government. As such, the operation to separate the twins did not cost the family anything.

Nia was buried in Mulyadi's hometown in Bogor on Friday evening.

Head of the surgery team Dr. Harry Purwanto explained that although Mia's condition was stable, her condition was still critical.

He said the doctors had removed Nia's skin to cover wounds on Mia's stomach and chest after receiving permission from their parents.

"Their parents agreed to the removal of her skin after we explained that it would increase Mia's chances of living," said Harry, adding that Mia was at high risk of infection due to her surgery wounds.

Mia is being treated in the intensive care unit at the hospital.