Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – Twenty-month-old conjoined twins Azaria and Azora Elson from Jamaica have been successfully separated in a complex and life-saving surgery at King Abdullah Children’s Hospital. The twins, who were joined at the chest and abdomen and shared a single liver, traveled thousands of miles for the high-risk procedure.
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What Happened
The separation surgery was performed after months of careful planning by an expert medical team led by Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabiah, a world-renowned specialist in conjoined twin separation.
One of the twins had a severe congenital heart defect, with a cardiac pumping capacity of less than 20%, making the surgery particularly dangerous and technically demanding.
Dr. Al-Rabiah described the operation as “very challenging” but expressed deep relief and gratitude for its success. The surgery lasted nearly five hours, during which surgeons meticulously separated the twins and ensured each child could survive independently.
Family Reactions
The twins’ mother, Ayesha Elson, watched the procedure from a nearby room via a live screen. When she learned the surgery was successful, she was overwhelmed with emotion and reportedly broke down in “tears of joy.”
Dr. Al-Rabiah added, “Their reaction, their emotions, it touched my heart so much. For them, it was tears of joy. It was a sigh of success, and that means a lot to me.”
Medical Program and Legacy
The successful separation of Azaria and Azora marks the 67th conjoined twin separation performed under Saudi Arabia’s renowned surgical program. Over the past 35 years, the program has evaluated or treated 152 conjoined twins from 28 countries, making it one of the most advanced initiatives of its kind in the world.
The procedure stands as a life-changing milestone for the Elson twins and highlights the expertise, precision, and compassion of the multidisciplinary medical team involved. Both Azaria and Azora are now in post-operative care and will continue to receive close monitoring to support their recovery and long-term health.
Conclusion
The successful separation of Azaria and Azora Elson represents a powerful triumph of modern medicine, international cooperation, and human resilience. As the twins begin their journey toward recovery, the global community celebrates the dedication of the surgical team and the hope this procedure brings to families facing similar challenges around the world. More updates will be shared as the twins continue to heal.