RIYADH, 22 March 2004 — Filipino Siamese twins Princess May and Princess Ann remain in stable condition one day after a marathon operation to separate them at the King Abdul Aziz Medical City.
“Both are doing well in the intensive care unit of the hospital,” said Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeea, KAMC executive director and head of the surgeons who separated the conjoined twins in a 14-hour operation.
Their mother Carina Manzo had been in great emotional distress during the operation: “It’s as if my lungs are being cut into pieces,” she said. But she is also said to be fine now.
Costly and complicated, the successful operation of the twins has drawn the praise of Filipinos.
“We particularly thank Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, for having shouldered the cost of the operation,” acting Ambassador Mariano A. Dumia told Arab News on Sunday.
The twins who were joined in a manner that occurs only once in 200,000 births.
“Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeea is a renowned surgeon who has not only made a name for himself but has also projected a good image of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the medical field,” he said.
The twins’ father Jericho Manzo, a tailor, was in Barangay Opao in Mindawi City in the Philippines during the operation.
Carina told the local press here that she had received a call from her mother trying to pacify her and saying that she and the people at Mindawi City were praying for a successful operation.
A Filipino journalist added the twins were lucky to be operated here.
“While there are good doctors in the Philippines, they don’t have the facilities which were used during the operation,” he said.
