Nepalese Siamese twins inspire donations for Singapore surgery

"We are very surprised and overwhelmed by the generosity of so many people whom we have never met, but who want to help our girls," their grandfather told The Straits Times.

Doctors at Singapore General Hospital have volunteered their time. The baby girls born on May 9, Ganga and Jamuna, are joined at the head and possibly the brain. The rare operation is expected to take place early next year.

The twins arrived in Singapore about six weeks ago with their parents, Bhushan K.C. and Sandhya Shrestha K.C., and their grandfather. The parents, from a mountain province, arrived with only two sets of clothing each and almost no money. They are being looked after by the Gurkha community here.

An appeal for funds set up 12 days ago to raise the 100,000 Singapore dollars (59,000 U.S.) needed for the surgery, hospital stay, medicine, equipment and other costs has received five times as much. The family said the money will pay for further medical procedures the twins will need as they grow up.

Twins attached at the head occur only once in 2 million births. The most recent similar surgery was performed in South Africa by Johns Hopkins surgeons in 1998. Both twins are alive.

(la/dpa)