We are now in a position to inform you that the twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf will be leaving Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust tomorrow (Friday 21 May).
Parents Angie and Azzedine Benhaffaf said:
“We are so relieved and so happy to announce that our little fighters are coming home tomorrow. All the prayers were answered and we thank God that it’s all six of us returning home.
"Hassan and Hussein have gone through so much in their young lives already and now we hope that we can give them the happy future they both deserve. We again thank the public for their overwhelming love and support and the media for respecting our privacy and being so sensitive.
“Thank you to the surgeons and staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital for giving our boys the incredible gift of separate lives! Not forgetting University College Hospital, London and Cork University Maternity Hospital who all shared in their care.
"As tough as the past year has been for all of us, we feel so much good has come out of this experience. Hassan and Hussein have brought out the best in everyone and reminded us all of the things that are important in life, which is family, unconditional love and above all hope.”
Mr Edward Kiely, consultant paediatric surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital said:
“The hospital is delighted that twins Hassan and Hussein Behaffaf are in a position to return home to Ireland. We now have two very independent little boys with every chance of a great future.
“When the twins came into the operating theatre for separation they were joined from the chest to the pelvis. The operation itself turned out to be fairly straightforward. Their hearts were not joined, but nearly everything else was, that includes the liver, gut and bladder, all of
which we separated. The boys also had one leg each, as that is how they were made.
“We have been very pleased with their recovery process and how they have thrived post separation. It is certainly not just down to me but to the whole team at the hospital who have provided the family with consistently high levels of care and expertise.”
A hospital spokesperson said:
“After more than a month in hospital, the Benhaffaf family is in a position to return home for the first time since separation surgery took place. They are incredibly grateful for the huge amount of public goodwill that has been shown to their boys, but are understandably tired and as such would appreciate privacy upon their return. They are very much looking forward to spending quality time together as a family.”
Media advisory:
- Any media requests for Mr Edward Kiely should come through the hospital press office.
- We are not releasing any new images of the twins and there will not be a media facility for the family's departure tomorrow.
- Further up to date statistical information on Great Ormond Street Hospital and its expertise in conjoined twins cases can be found by following the link.
Contact information:
GOSH-ICH Press Office: 020 7239 3125
Email:
Coxs@gosh.nhs.ukFor genuine and urgent out of hours call speak to switchboard on 020 7405 9200
