The separated twins Nima and Dawa Pelden with their mother arrived in Bhutan today. The formerly conjoined twins are home after their successful life-changing separation surgery in Australia.
The twins were welcomed at Paro International Airport this morning. The twins’ father Sonam Tshering could not hold back his tears seeing his daughters after almost five months.
“I felt sad when my daughters and wife left for Australia. I was worried about how their operation will turn out. But now I am happy to see them separated after a successful surgery,” he said.
Born joined at the thoracoabdominal region, the twins’ mother Bumchu Zangmo said, “I feared that my daughters might have to live joined together.”
She said she is thankful to everyone who made it possible for the surgery in Australia.
Escorted by health officials and family members, the 19-month-old twins visited Tachog Lhakhang on their way to Thimphu.
The twins and their mother left to Australia in October last year. They underwent the separation surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne in November.
After a few weeks in the hospital, the girls and their mother lived in the Children First Foundation’s Kilmore retreat to continue recovering.
The surgery and recovery expenses were funded by the Victorian government. The cost of the flights and accommodation was funded by the Children First Foundation, an Australian-based charity.
