Conjoined twins receive professional consultations courtesy of GMA Kapuso Foundation

With the assistance of GMA Kapuso Foundation, a pair of conjoined twins from Maguindanao del Sur received professional consultations.

According to “24 Oras,” Friday, Deia and Issa’s parents couldn’t help but feel worried when they found out that their twins were joined together.

“Minsan po nakikita ko sila na nag-iyak, nag-iyak din ako kasi ano, syempre, masakit din sa’kin,” the twins’ father, Sultan Abdullah, said.

[Sometimes, I see them crying, and I also cry because, of course, it's painful for me too.]

They did not lose hope in having the twins separated, so they traveled all the way to Manila to seek help.

GMA Kapuso Foundation immediately assisted the family to see a pediatric surgeon, where the twins underwent multiple laboratory tests.

“Ang kanilang puso o ‘yung ventricle, ‘yung lower chamber ng heart niya, ay talagang magkadikit, fused. So wala silang separating point kung paano. Talaga pong very complicated ‘yung case na gagawin na operation. Baka isa magkaroon ng problema, ikamatay pa ng isa o dalawang babies,” Dr. Beda Espineda said.

[Their heart or the ventricle, the lower chamber of their heart, is really closely joined, fused. So, they don't have a separating point. The case is really very complicated for the surgery. There might be a problem, leading to the death of one or both babies.]

He also explained the situation to the parents.

“Isa ang masasakripisyo, ano?” he said. “Base dun sa aming MDC or multidisciplinary conference, lahat na ng specialty nandoon, nag-agree kami na isa na ‘wag na naming ituloy ang operasyon.”

[One will have to be sacrificed, right?" he said. "Based on our MDC or multidisciplinary conference, all specialties were present, and we agreed not to proceed with the operation.]

“Mas gugustuhin ko na din po ‘yung hindi sila mapaghiwalay po. Kesa naman po sa hindi natin alam ‘yung mangyari sa kanila ‘pag pinaoperahan na,” the twins’ mom, Jedana Ati, said.

[I would also prefer that they are not separated. Rather than not knowing what might happen to them after the operation.]

Once they return home to Maguindanao, a doctor will be looking after the twins’ condition.

“Maraming salamat sa mga doktor po na tumulong po sa amin, sa mga anak ko, sa GMA Kapuso po, sa naging daan po kung bakit po kami nandito,” Jedana said.

[Thank you very much to the doctors who helped us, to my children, to GMA Kapuso, for being the reason why we are here.]

For those who are interested to help, the GMA Kapuso Foundation is accepting donations through bank deposits, Cebuana Lhuillier, GCash, Shopee, PayMaya, Zalora, MegaMart, Globe Rewards, Metrobank credit card, and Lazada.

For more information, visit the GMA Kapuso Foundation website.

—Carby Basina/CACM, GMA Integrated News