RIYADH, 10 January 2005 — The newly-separated Polish twins — Daria and Olga Kolacz — are in stable condition five days after a long and complicated operation at the King Abdul Aziz Medical City here. “Both are doing well in the hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit (ICU),” said Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, executive director of the hospital.
Dr. Al-Rabeeah said the girls were recovering in a satisfactory manner despite the complex surgery. A major problem the team of doctors had to deal with was the discovery of shared blood vessels which had not been detected during the preliminary examinations; the problem was dealt with successfully and the girls now appear healthy with no disturbing symptoms. Hospital sources said the babies are under intensive round-the-clock observation.
The source said Saudi officials, including senior physicians and surgeons, have been inquiring regularly about the girls’ condition. “Crown Prince Abdullah has been personally concerned,” the source pointed out.
Dr. Al-Rabeeah said the successful surgery “has given strength and confidence to the team of Saudi doctors who have dealt with such cases before.” This was the ninth such operation in the hospital.
In an interview the girls’ mother, Wieslawa Dabrowska, said the offer of surgery from Saudi Arabia was “like a fairy-tale. I trusted — and I still trust — that everything will be fine. If I weren’t so tired I would be jumping with joy. Now I can buy separate clothes for the girls and I plan to go shopping tomorrow. I am so happy.”
The girls will be released from the ICU in two weeks if there are no complications. They will then begin a rehabilitation period, including physiotherapy for the spine and lower limbs.
