Some stories touch the heart. Some stories tickle the mind. Some stories force the reader to think philosophically. The BBC long read article on the separation of conjoined Pakistani twin sisters Safa and Marwa did all three.
Born joined at the head with each girl's blood vessels supplying the blood to other's brain, the safe separation of the twins was one of the most complicated and very rare. The case of the Pakistani girls was even more complicated as they were joined at the head with no distinct separation of blood vessels taking blood to and from the brain.
Along with extreme complexity, the cost of the prolonged and multi-stage surgery was very high. It was because of the high cost that the surgery was delayed beyond the safe age of 12 months. The surgery was started when the twins were almost 2 years old. The operation started in October 2018 and successfully ended in February 2019 with the two girls safely separated from each other.
Story aside, what is so incredible about the surgery is the human ingenuity. The delicate act of separating twins joined at head is beyond comprehension in terms of complexity. Hours of meticulous act of identifying tissues, blood vessels, nerves and other parts before separating them stage by stage requires god-like precision. While the dexterity and skills of the two chief surgeon Dr. Jeelani and plastic surgeon professor Dunaway was augmented by the software engineers and computer scientists that played critical role in 3D modelling, virtual reality based simulation and detailed analysis of procedures that helped the medical staff carry out the task with extra precision. No less important was the altruism of the Pakistani businessman Murtaza Lakhani who took the burden of financing the expensive procedure.
Above all, if humans join hands, work hard and apply their skills, they can do tasks that can seem beyond comprehension for normal beings.
Some people are driven by personal desires. Others are driven by lust for power, There are very few who are driven by a desire to do good for others and take pride in other's bliss. The people who joined forces to make sure the two girls could lead separate, independent and vastly more comfortable life than their rare birth condition entailed were no less than god-send for the girls, their mother, grandfather and other loved ones. No wonder the mother kissed the hands of the doctors with devotion and gratitude. They were no less than angels for her.
These are rare but highly illuminating examples of positive human spirit and ingenuity. With right means and motivation, humans can achieve the unthinkable. If only every human motivation were guided by such altruism.
Tuesday 16 July 2019 (31 Ashadn 2076)
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