Nia dies, gives her skin to her living twin sister

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.