- Mar 07, 2019
- 4185
Tears Of Joy As Separated Twins Arrive Home In Bhutan After Surgery In Australia
The twins were reunited with their family after staying in Australia for five months.
By Kinley Yangden | Daily Bhutan
Bhutanese twin girls Nima and and Dawa Palden are finally home in Bhutan after five months in Australia, following a successful separation surgery.
The 19-month-old formerly conjoined toddlers - the duo were joined at the torso - were separated by a team of 25 surgeons, nurses and anaesthetists at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) last Nov in a six-hour surgery.
Accompanied by their mum, Bumchu Zangmo, the three returned safely to Bhutan on Thursday morning via Singapore. Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines also gave them a warm welcome up in the air with a chocolate cake and stuffed toys.
Tearful reunion
Their father, Mr Sonam Tshering, was waiting at the VIP area for the three of them. He said he was so excited to reunite with them, that he wasn’t able to sleep the whole night. This is the first time the toddlers are seeing their father after the surgery. Mr Sonam told us that while they were in Melbourne, he would communicate with them and his wife on video chats and messenger apps.
Mr Sonam was seen shedding tears of joy when he hugged the twins, after they made their way to the VIP holding area at Paro International Airport. However, Nima couldn’t stop crying and had to be pacified by her mother.
The Ministry of Health and the Tourism Council of Bhutan were also present at the airport to receive the twins and their mother.
Upon exiting the arrival hall, Nima, Dawa and Bumchu were greeted by other family members, all joyful and glad to see the three of them finally back home.
The family members then made their way to Tachog Lhakhang to say some prayers and light butter lamps. The twins were healthy, active and curious too, while their family and other members of the local and Australian media were giving them their undivided attention.
Successful surgery
The twins were discharged from the hospital on Nov 26 after a six-hour operation and continued their recovery at the Children First Foundation’s Kilmore Retreat in Melbourne, where they received further treatment and nutritional support.
In an SBS report, the twins were at Melbourne's Government House on Tuesday to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Children First Foundation which helped bring the girls to Australia for their surgery.
The foundation also funded the flights for the twins and their mother.