Doctors reveal complex, multi-country mission to help conjoined twins
Doctors from Sydney undertook a complex mission to separate conjoined twins Sawong and Tom, who were born in Papua New Guinea. The twins shared multiple vital organs, and without separation, both were at risk of dying. After extensive planning and international collaboration, the twins were successfully transported to Sydney for surgery.
- ▪Sawong and Tom were conjoined at the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, sharing major organs.
- ▪The twins' mother, Fetima Tinggar, expressed that without intervention, both boys would have died.
- ▪A team of specialists from Sydney assessed the twins and determined that separation was necessary for Sawong's survival.
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The race to save a conjoined twinExclusive by Papua New Guinea correspondent Marian FaaTopic:HealthSat 23 May 2026 at 4:39amSat 23 May 2026 at 4:39amSat 23 May 2026 at 4:39amabc.net.au/news/doctors-reveal-mission-papua-new-guinean-conjoined-twins/106703000Link copiedShareShare articleGiggling from his stroller, a baby is wheeled through the foyer of a large hospital in Sydney, beaming at the many doctors and nurses who stop to say "hello"."Everyone loves him, he's a superstar," remarks Gordon Thomas, a paediatric transplant surgeon at Children's Hospital, Westmead, who operated on the child.Sawong Kevin was born in remote Papua New Guinea in October. He was attached to his brother, Tom, at the chest, abdomen and pelvis.Fetima is focused on her son Sawong after his long medical battle.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).