MANILA: Doctors from the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program have given Maurice Ann and Klea Misa a chance each to live their own distinct lives, their mother told Arab News on Friday following successful separation surgery in Riyadh.
The 7-year-old girls, who are from Lubang, a municipality on the Philippine island of Mindoro, were joined at the head.
The surgery was organized and sponsored by the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, which established the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program in 1990. The center and program are headed by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, one of the world’s most renowned pediatric surgeons.
Saudi specialists have been preparing for nearly a year for the complex surgery since the twins arrived in Riyadh last May, as they had to consider various critical medical factors, including their overlapping brain tissues and Klea’s heart and kidney failures.
The twins finally underwent a five-stage operation at the King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital on Thursday, led by pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Moutasem Azzubi and a team of about 30 medics.
“Our prayers were answered … Hearing that the surgery was successful, it felt like a miracle. I felt so much relief, happiness and gratitude to the doctors, and everyone who helped our twins,” Maricel Misa, the girls’ mother, told Arab News on Friday.
“Right now our twins are still recovering, they are being closely monitored by the doctors and nurses to make sure everything continues to go well.”
Before the surgery, Al-Rabeeah said that the Misa twins’ case was one of the “most complex in the world,” with the Saudi Press Agency later reporting that the procedure had taken 18.5 hours.
This photo shows Maricel Misa with her husband and twins Maurice Ann and Klea on a family outing, before their separation surgery. (Facebook via MisaTwins Fam)
In a Facebook post written after the surgery, Maricel said the doctors gave the twins “a new chance to live their lives” separately.
She also told Arab News that the Saudi medical team had been kind and compassionate throughout the entire process.
“The doctors were not only highly skilled, but they also treated us with so much kindness and compassion. From the very beginning, they explained every step to us and gave us hope during the most difficult moments,” she said.
“We saw their dedication, patience, and teamwork during this very long and complicated surgery.”
The family is now looking forward to seeing the girls “grow, dream and live” their lives.
Conjoined twins are a rare phenomenon, estimated to occur once in every 50,000 to 60,000 births.
“We would also like to express our deepest gratitude to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their kindness and generosity in supporting our twins’ operation,” Maricel said.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomed us with compassion and gave our children a chance for a better life. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for giving hope not only to our twins, but also to us as parents. We will forever remember the kindness and humanity shown to our family.”
Maurice Ann and Klea are the 70th pair successfully separated under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, and the third from the Philippines.
The first Filipino pair were Ann and Mae Manz, who were joined at the abdomen, pelvis and perineum. They were separated by Dr. Al-Rabeeah and his team in March 2004.
The second pair, Akhizah and Ayeesha Yusoph, were joined at the lower chest and abdomen and shared one liver. Their successful separation surgery was completed in September 2024.
