Twins conjoined at birth prepare to start school
It was a very hard time for us. Every milestone is special.
Conjoined twins are incredibly rare - occurring once in every 200,000 births.
Twins Ruby and Rosie Formosa had complex separation surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital, just a day after they were born conjoined in July 2012. Four years later, the girls will join the thousands of children from across the UK who are going to school for the very first time this September.
They're looking forward to painting, drawing and playing in the playground but like other Great Ormond Street Hospital patients, these milestones take on a particular significance for families. To mark this special occasion Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity is asking the nation to share their back to school or first day moments and fundraise for the hospital to help seriously ill children from across the UK.
Tim Johnson, Chief Executive, Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity said “We’re encouraging people from across the UK to share their Back to School or first day at school moments with the #backtoschool and donate to help raise money for the hospital by texting SCHOOL to 70020 to give £3”
The twins’ surgery is just part of the very special, transformative care given to children from across the UK. Joined by the intestine and the abdomen the twins were delivered by caesarean section and then transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital for the planned surgery. After three weeks in hospital, the twins returned home and have gone on to fulfil lots of important milestones.
Great Ormond Street Hospital is Europe's leading centre for the care of conjoined twins. The first successful separation of conjoined twins at Great Ormond Street Hospital took place in 1985. Over the last three decades, over 27 sets of conjoined twins have been cared for at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
For more information on the Back to School campaign please visit the Great Ormond Street Hospital website.
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