Conjoined twins who survived the UK’s first spine separation surgery have said they are ‘grateful’ their parents decided to go ahead with the operation – despite a bleak 5 to 25 per cent chance of survival rate.
After their success, Eman Mowatt and Sanchia Mwatt from Great Barr in Birmingham were called ‘walking miracles.’
Doctors had feared the pioneering operation, performed for only the third time in the world on the sisters in 2001, when they were just three-months-old, could lead to paralysis.
But the 16-hour surgery at Birmingham Children’s Hospital was a success and the sisters appeared on ITV’s Lorraine today to praise the medical staff who helped them become ‘two separate individuals’ as well as their parents for making the difficult decision.
Eman and Sanchia, who are currently studying at different universities, along with their younger sister Damaris are raising funds for the hospital through their singing as they end their treatment there and move into adult care.
Scroll down to see the video
After their success, Eman Mowatt and Sanchia Mwatt were thrust in the limelight of the media.
Doctors feared that the groundbreaking operation on the sisters, which was performed in 2001 when they were three months old, could cause paralysis.
However, the surgery at Birmingham Children’s Hospital took 16 hours and was successful. The sisters were pictured with their parents as newborns today on Lorraine. They praised the medical team for helping them.
Discussing her parents’ decision to go ahead with the operation, Eman said: ‘We can only imagine what our parents were going through, and them thinking about the survival rate and how we’d be at least ten, twenty years down the line or even a year down the line.
“But they’re still thankful to them because they probably thought, “What will the twins look like in the next couple years?” and so we’re glad that they decided and that it was successful.
Sanchia said that although Sanchia is disabled and has limited standing and walking mobility, she can still lead a normal life.
“There are still side effects, but they don’t affect us as much. However, at the end we still feel grateful that we have the ability to live our life as it is and are so thankful for the surgeons who allowed us to become two distinct individuals.
Eman and Sanchia, who are both currently studying at universities in different countries and are pictured together. They are also raising money for the hospital by singing.
The twins pictured with their younger sister Damaris (pictured right) on Lorraine today
The Mirror reported that both sister have spina bifida. They each have a weakness on one side of their bodies, which causes back pain and difficulty walking.
They both also have one leg shorter than the other, while Eman uses a wheelchair or crutch to walk on her ‘bad days’ and Sanchia also uses a crutch.
Speaking in 2002, after being allowed to return home from hospital with their children, proud parents, David and Emma Mowatt, still couldn’t quite believe they could hold one each in their arms.
‘Our daughters are the most precious gift, and knowing they can lead independent lives is a miracle,’ said Emma, who was 27 at the time and a bank processor for NatWest.
Both sisters (pictured as babies with their parents) have spina bifida and each has a weaker side of their body which results in back pain and problems walking
Eman has a shorter left leg than Sanchia, so Eman walks on her “bad days” with a wheelchair. As babies, here are the twins
“The past months have been an emotional rollercoaster, and we are forever grateful for the help of our doctors.
David, her husband at the time of his 30th birthday and youth worker, added that “The girls are unaware to one another.”
“Before the surgery, they could not wait to get rid of each other. They held one another’s arms down and hit the other with their fingers when they moved their hands. It’s almost as though they aren’t going to be able to hold hands again.