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Salamander
Fire Walking

Making a Difference.
Wed Apr 02 2003

Sometimes, when the problems of the world are too big to grasp, something comes up where you can make a difference. My check is smaller than I'd like, but it will go out tonight.

Conjoined Twins' Surgery May Be Delayed


By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 2:55 p.m. ET DALLAS (AP)

Surgery to separate conjoined 16-month-old Egyptian twins could be delayed or canceled unless $125,000 is raised to help offset the estimated $2 million cost, a hospital official said. Children's Medical Center of Dallas said it cannot donate its part of Ahmed and Mohamed Ibrahim's care because the expense could hurt the hospital's main mission of caring for North Texas children.

The World Craniofacial Foundation, which is sponsoring the 22-month-old twins, said it cannot afford the operation, either. ``One surgery could completely wipe out all the funds of the foundation,'' director Sue Blackwood told The Dallas Morning News for Wednesday's editions.

The twins were brought to Dallas 10 months ago by a surgical team at Medical City Dallas hospital. Doctors were to perform the surgery there, but after reviewing the boys' condition, they decided they preferred to operate at Children's because it has the needed technology, said Dr. Kenneth Slayer, a craniofacial specialist and leader of the boys' surgical team.

The trouble is, Children's said it can't afford to take part. Other operations after the main separation surgery would take place at Medical City. The doctors are waiving their fees.

The twins are joined at the crowns of their heads, the rarest type of conjunction, and complex surgery is needed to untangle blood vessels in the boys' brains. Doctors said the operation needs to happen soon. The older the boys become, the more their neurological tissue loses the ability to heal from the operation, they said.

For now, they are staying at an apartment paid for by the World Craniofacial Foundation. Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahimand, the boys' father, said through a translator that he wants his boys separated, ``so they can have a chance to live like any other human beings.'' If too little money is raised, he said he would still feel blessed. ``I will take them home. I will take care of them,'' the father said. ``My family will love them as always.''

On the Net:

http://www.egyptiantwins.com

http://www.childrens.com

10 Comments
  • From:
    Lilith (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Apr 02 2003
    LOL@sprinting.

    Your poor skin is getting a work out too.

    That was nice re: cleaning woman.
  • From:
    AQuietEvening (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Apr 02 2003
    What a great note!! Whether you believe or not it's so comforting to have people putting out positive energy for you!

    ~QE
  • From:
    MoonriddenGirl (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Apr 02 2003
    I think it's under "clueless" as well.

  • From:
    Sezrah (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Apr 02 2003
    kindness from unexpected sources is always a blessing and miracle, i think those around us care more than we realise
    as for sackings etc, it seems kiwi-born reporter peter arnett was also dropped by nbc for stepping out of line about the war

    sez
  • From:
    Greensparkles (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Apr 02 2003
    Seems like you're doing well....good to hear

    hoping O`Beast good health....

    the glass (art-work)was a ceiling installation in a museum...unfortunately, I forgot both the artist's name and the museum!!

    take care : D
  • From:
    Calichef (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Apr 02 2003
    Pali-
    Thank you for your kind comments (once again) to my latest entry. I am working really hard to keep a positive and non-combatant attitude about the latest insults.
    As for the twins, stories like that always make me count my blessings that my son was born (relatively) healthy. He had gastroesophogeal reflux which causes projectile vomiting in infants, and this caused failure to thrive syndrome. He was very small, and only weighed 18 pounds by his first birthday. Thankfully, times had changed, as my great-grandmother's only daughter died of this same condition when she was nine months old. Thank heavens for modern medicine and anti-spasmodics. Indeed, better living through chemistry!
    To Greensparkles, is the artist in question Dale Chihuly? He has had many such installations around the country, and is widely considered to be the best glass artist in the US.
    Love,
    ~Cali
  • From:
    Shay4l (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Apr 02 2003
    Hooray for diuretics (?)

    I'm glad you found something to make you feel a little better.
  • From:
    TraumaMama (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Apr 02 2003
    Looks like you don't need a spiket now :)
    Interesting story about the conjoined twins, I hope they are able to separate them. There was a very interesting story on Dicovery or TLC---one of those channels about conjoined twins not too long ago.
    Hope O'Beast is okay!
  • From:
    Allimom (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Apr 02 2003
    I've never been able to stand Geraldo. I've often wondered if it were possible to kick him out of TV altogether!
    Alli
  • From:
    Sezrah (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Apr 02 2003
    that's such a great way of looking at life, there's always somebody worse off
    i'm sure you'll be blessed by your giving

    sez