Conjoined Algerian twins: 'They have won the battle of their lives'

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Conjoined twins born in London

January 15, 2010 -- Conjoined twins have been born at a hospital in London, it has been announced. The two boys were born six weeks ago at University College Hospital in central London and have been cared for at Great Ormond Street. Their parents, who wish to remain anonymous, are taking the boys home so they can grow and get stronger before an operation to attempt to separate them later this year. It is not known how they are joined but it is likely they have separate hearts and circulation as doctors are discussing separating them. In some cases it is not possible to safely separate conjoined twins.

A statement issued by the parents, thought to be from Ireland, said: "We are very proud of our two little boys and we feel blessed by their arrival six weeks ago. We needed time together first as a family and to see how the boys were doing. "Presently, they are feeding well and gaining weight. "We are planning for the boys to come home soon and we are asking the media and the public to let us enjoy this special time with our "two little fighters" before their separation later this year. We would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all the wonderful people who cared for us and the boys at University College Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital, and Cork University Maternity Hospital. We would also like to thank our family and friends who have helped us through such a difficult time and let them know just how much we appreciate their ongoing support."

Mr Edward Kiely, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at GOSH, said: “If all goes according to plan the children will return to Great Ormond Street Hospital later in the year. The surgical team here is the most experienced in Europe at assessing and if necessary separating conjoined twins." Great Ormond Street Hospital is the most experienced centre in Europe in the care of conjoined twins and has separated 21 pairs and looked after nine sets of twins where it was not possible to separate them. The case comes after conjoined twins Faith and Hope Williams in 2008 who both sadly died after an urgent operation to separate them. They had been joined from the breastbone to the naval, had their own hearts but shared a liver and respiratory system. Their mother Laura Williams, from Shrewsbury, was just 18 when they were born and was thought to be the youngest mother of conjoined twins.

Conjoined twins have a good chance of survival when the operation to separate them can be planned well in advance with the babies given time to grow and get stronger after birth.In these cases around 80 per cent survive. But where the condition of one or both of the twins deteriorates then urgent surgery is required and the chances of survival drop to around 20 per cent to 25 per cent. Where twins are joined at the heart it is usually impossible to separate them. Great Ormond Street Hospital has successful separated twins joined at the brain but this is very rare.

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Conjoined twins discharged

January 21, 2010 -- The parents of conjoined twins born before Christmas introduced their new arrivals to the world today as they posed for photographs before being discharged from Cork University Maternity Hospital where they've been treated for the past few weeks. Corkwoman, Angie Benhaffaf and her Algerian born husband, Azzedine posed for photographs with tiny Hassan and Hussein along with the couple's other children, the twins' sisters, Malika (4) and Iman (2) and thanked the public for their support. "We very much appreciate the positive response to our request for privacy from the media and the public, but we also know that there is genuine interest in the progress of our 'two little fighters," said the parents in a statement. "We have taken the decision to issue this photo of our family as we head for home in East Cork. We again hope that our privacy at home will be fully respected as we enjoy what will be a very special time for us as a family before we return to London for the boys' separation later this year. We also wish to record our gratitiude to all the truly wonderful staff in Cork University Maternity Hospital for the care and attention they have lavished on ourselves and the boys." The two little boys were born seven weeks ago at University College Hospital in London but returned in late December to Cork University Maternity Hospital where they've responded well to care and have gained weight to the point that they are now fit for discharge. The twins are expected to return to London within the next few months to undergo a separation procedure at Great Ormond Street Hospital which is the leading centre for the management and conjoined twins in Europe.

It's understood that the twins are conjoined at the chest area but don't share any vital organs making separation possible and leading the surgical team, which will carry out the procedure is Cork-born paediatric surgeon, Edward Kiely

Mr Kiely revealed that Great Ormond Street Hospital is the most experienced centre in Europe for the management and, if necessary, the separation of conjoined twins with the teams having dealt with some 21 separations and some nine inoperable cases to date.

"Separation is best carried out at a tertiary centre with the full range of specialties on hand. We have the two most experienced surgeons in the UK in this work leading a team of expert nurses, doctors, and other health professionals, providing the full range of expertise needed."

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Little Fighters Fund set up for conjoined twins

Fundraising efforts are getting underway for Cork’s conjoined twins, Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf. A special bank account has been set up for the boys who will require over 20 hours of surgery later this year when they are separated from each other. The twins’ parents, Angie - originally from Togher - and Azzedine, could need to stay in London for at least six months during their surgery and recovery period. Donations can be made to: The Little Fighters Fund at Permanent TSB, Patrick Street, Cork, Sort Code: 99-07-03; Account No: 16556196.

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Conjoined twins' parents shocked by media bids

February 7, 2010 -- The mother of conjoined Irish twin boys has revealed she felt the tabloid media had effectively "tried to put a price" on her sons' heads. Angie Benhaffaf - who last month allowed all Irish media outlets to have photographic access to her sons, Hassan and Hussein - said she was totally shocked by the bidding war which erupted between rival tabloid papers after it was confirmed her youngsters were conjoined twins. "One paper told us that they would match the highest offer we received (for the photos)," she said. The family have refused to discuss the newspaper offers - but it is understood one British tabloid offered €80,000 for exclusive photo rights to the children. "We were totally shocked by it all - it was a bit unsettling," she added.

Angie and her Algerian husband, Azzedine, eventually refused to sell the rights to photographic access and instead allowed photos to be released to all media outlets. The couple explained they felt that selling the photos to a single tabloid paper - despite the large sums on offer - would effectively have exploited the situation. Now, the couple have been totally overwhelmed with offers of financial aid, gifts and messages of support. The boys, who are joined at the torso and do not share any major organs, are scheduled to undergo marathon 20-hour separation surgery in London later this year. Last night, the east Cork-based couple acknowledged that they had been astonished by the sheer volume of support the plight of their two boys had attracted. Angie and Azzedine have had to establish a special account - The Little Fighters Fund - just to cope with the flood of donations and offers of help for their two-month-old twins. The account has been opened at the Permanent TSB's Patrick Street branch in Cork: sort code 99-07-03 and account no: 16556196.

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Fighting fit as 1,000 bikers help raise cash for Cork conjoined twins' surgery

March 8, 2010 -- Ireland's “Two little Fighters” – conjoined twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf – slept blissfully in the arms of their mother Angie yesterday in spite of being surrounded by up to 1,000 bikers preparing to undertake a charity race on their behalf. Hassan and Hussein, dressed in matching red outfits, were a picture of contentment as their mother Angie spoke to the media prior to a bike run organised by the Rebel Riders Motorcycle Club, which began shortly after 1pm yesterday at the Two Mile Inn pub in Midleton, Co Cork.

Angie Benhaffaf was visibly moved by the large turnout for the race from Midleton to Dungarvan. She expressed gratitude for the huge outpouring of generosity she has received from the public since her boys were born in December. “It is overwhelming. It is lovely. It is amazing. It shows that everyone in the country is behind the boys, and that it is all very positive. It is so genuine. We are totally overwhelmed as a family. We are going to stay here for a little while, and then we are going to go home and feed everyone. Then we will pop back later on when the riders are coming back. It is brilliant.”

Angie and her Algerian-born husband Azzedine posed yesterday for photographs with tiny Hassan and Hussein, along with the couple’s other children, Malika (4) and Iman (2), and thanked the public for their support. The bike run was organised by the twins’ uncle Jason Keating, a member of the Rebel Riders bikers’ club. The funds will go towards paying for surgery to separate the boys later this year in London. Mr Keating said he was thrilled with the turnout. He praised the numerous sporting associations in Ireland and the UK which donated jerseys and signed pictures in aid of the twins. “Sir Alex Ferguson sent over signed shirts for the boys and we also got Liverpool signed shirts, Aston Villa, Stoke City, Ipswich; we have a Munster rugby jersey as well. They will all be auctioned on the 25th of this month.”

DJs from Cork’s Red FM led out the run, with the assistance of Declan O’Donovan from Two Wheel Training. Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork Laura McGonigle was a passenger on one of the bikes in support of the cause. Councillor McGonigle said she was honoured to take part. “I am delighted to be part of this. I think a special tribute should go to the Rebel Riders as well who are always very good for raising funds for charity as well. In true Cork spirit, people did not leave us down. We expected 500 or 600 people to turn up and we have over a thousand bikers here today which makes it one of the largest ever road races in Ireland, and I think the two boys are a very worthy cause and I wish them the best of luck in a couple of weeks’ time in Great Ormond Street.”

The twins were born at University College Hospital in London in December. They are based at Carrigtwohill, Co Cork. Leading the surgical team for their separation later this year is Cork-born paediatric surgeon Edward Kiely. Great Ormond Street Hospital is the most experienced centre in Europe for the separation of conjoined twins, with the teams having dealt with 21 separations and nine inoperable cases to date. Crucially, the two boys are understood not to share any major organs. Surgeons are planning for the separation once the pair get stronger.

The Little Fighters account is at the Permanent TSB’s Patrick Street branch in Cork:
Sort code 99-07-03, account no: 16556196

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Parents pray for 'little fighters' as date set for twins' separation

March 15, 2010 -- The parents of Ireland's conjoined twins are praying for their "little fighters" ahead of their separation operation. Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf will undergo surgery in London on April 7. The three-and-a-half-month-old twins attended an informal naming ceremony at the weekend at Go Safari indoor play centre in Carrigtwohill, County Cork, with their parents Angie and Azzedine and the couple's other two children Malika (4) and Iman (2). The event was organised to celebrate the boys' progress.

Emotional mum Angie confirmed she had received a date for the separation operation for her boys. She appealed to the public to keep her beloved sons in their thoughts and prayers in the coming weeks. "It will be our little fighters' final battle. We would ask everyone to keep them in their thoughts and prayers. It will come as a shock I guess to people that it has come on us so fast. But as difficult as it is to say, we have been given the date of the seventh of April for the boys' separation."

Angie and Algerian-born Azzedine are overwhelmed at the level of support the general public has given them. Their appearance on the Late Late Show triggered a massive flood of support from the public and dozens of fundraising events and activities for which Angie says she is extremely grateful. "It has been an amazing journey. We have met some wonderful people along the way. The whole country has given us support that has totally overwhelmed us. Today is their naming day which was a very special day for us because we never thought we would get to this stage."

The family will leave for London on March 21 to prepare for the twins' major operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Leading the surgical team for their separation is Cork-born paediatric surgeon Edward Kiely. Mr Kiely said the survival rate at Great Ormond Street Hospital for planned separations where the children are stable and separation can be done at a suitable time is about 80%.