Mum wants twins to stay in Australia

Dhaka : The mother who gave up conjoined Bangladeshi newborn twins for adoption Sunday said she is overjoyed the toddlers have been successfully separated and wants them to grow up in Australia.

"My babies are alive and doing well. It's the best news I've ever got in my life," a tearful Lovely Mollick told AP in a telephone interview from her home in Khulna district, 137 kilometres southwest of Dhaka.

The twins, who turn three next month, had been joined at the top of their heads and shared brain tissue and blood vessels. They were separated on Tuesday after 25 hours of delicate surgery in a hospital in Melbourne and then underwent an additional six hours of reconstructive work.

Support continues

The charity that brought Trishna and Krishna to Australia two years ago for the surgery, Children First Foundation, will continue to support the twins as they undergo further medical treatment in Australia for at least the next two years, chief executive Margaret Smith said on Friday.

The weaker of two twins separated from her conjoined sister in landmark surgery in Australia woke fully from a coma yesterday — and blew her guardian a raspberry.

"I'm smiling today and it's the only smile I've had in a week, I'm grinning. Krishna's woken up, unbelievable and she is neurologically sound, which gives me shivers down my spine," Moira Kelly told reporters.

Kelly said she gave a "big yelp" when Krishna blew her a raspberry and there was "a bit of a sniffle down the phone" when she shared the news with the team of 16 surgeons who separated the two-year-olds.