Conjoined twins from Senegal thriving after doctors gave them days to live
After doctors gave conjoined twins, Marieme and Ndeye Ndiaye, days to live, they’re doing better than ever as they start their first day of nursery
school.
Four years ago, Ibrahima Ndiaye fathered conjoined twins Marieme and Ndeye Ndiaye in Senegal, where doctors believed the twins had just days to live. Now, they’re getting ready to start their first day in nursery school and are thriving despite the odds.
Shortly after Ibrahima Ndiaye became a father to his conjoined twins, he made the big move to the UK with his family in the hopes of giving his daughters a better life and better medical care. He found this at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where his daughters are getting the medical care they deserve in order to live a healthy and happy life.
Now, as they approach their fifth birthday in May, the twins have started nursery school in London. In addition, they are also learning to stand and walk with the help of staff at Tŷ Hafan Children’s Hospice.
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“This social and emotional care is part of the holistic care we provide to our families, and this has enabled the family to settle in Cardiff, continue to receive the medical care they need and even start primary school,” says Tŷ Hafan Children’s Hospice.
Days into their new school year, their father admits that his twins are loving their new environment and says that Marieme and Ndeye are already popular among their peers and that they are making new friends every day.
In an interview with Wales Online, Ndiaye admits that his twins are already displaying different personality traits, adding that Ndeye is more outspoken and makes friends easily, while Marieme is more reserved and shy.
While the twins are thriving in their new environment, Ndiaye admits that he needs to keep close watch on the girls who rely on each other to survive. He explains that doctors grew worried over Marieme’s condition when the twins were two. He says that her heart started weakening and that, today, she is mainly being kept alive by her sister.
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According to Ndiaye, doctors started considering separating the twins in order to save Ndeye, but discovered that the girls’ circulatory systems were closely linked and that they would not survive without the other. He adds that Marieme relies on oxygen from her sister’s stronger heart and has a number of complex issues with breathing and exercise that would make it impossible for her to survive without her sister.However, despite their challenges, the sisters continue to
enjoy their childhood and new home in the UK.
Image courtesy: Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice