This is the touching moment seven-year-old conjoined twins, who were given days to live after birth, clap and squeal with joy as they are handed their own coats at an inclusively designed facility after their father struggled to find them clothes.
For most parents, finding clothes that fit their daughters is easy, but Ibrahima Ndiaye has opened up about the challenges of providing her daughters with clothes that fit well.
Conjoined twins Marieme and Ndeye were brought to the UK from Senegal by their father in 2017 when they were seven months old to seek help from doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
Twins have separate brains, hearts and lungs, but they share a liver, bladder, digestive system and three kidneys. Doctors had predicted that they would not survive more than a few days after their birth.
Marieme and Ndeye have defied the odds and recently celebrated their seventh birthday with friends at their Cardiff primary school.
Caring for the sister comes with its own set of challenges, their father shared, noting that the twins require 24-hour attention and dressing them is difficult.
“You have to buy two identical covers and take them to the renovation shop to join them together,” Mr. Ndiaye revealed in the The new BBC documentary on Inseparable Sisters.
“They have two legs, so they can wear normal pants, but their hips are very wide, so you also have to take them to the accessories store.”
The girls recently visited the inclusive design facility at the University of South Wales, where they were seen choosing jackets created specifically for them in a moving trailer for the documentary.
Conjoined twins Marieme and Ndeye (pictured) have separate brains, hearts and lungs, but share a liver, bladder, digestive system and three kidneys. Because of their condition, dressing girls can be difficult, her father revealed.
This is the touching moment staff at the University of South Wales’ inclusive design center gave their girls a personalized raincoat.
The girls recently commemorated their seventh birthday with their classmates. The documentary showed how they were showered in confetti during the celebration.
Marieme and Ndeye seemed excited when the designer presented their new coats.
The girls received two personalized jackets: one padded to “keep them warm” and another to “keep them dry in the rain,” the documentary revealed.
The sisters clapped and squealed with joy when they were able to choose the new outerwear.
Ibrahima, who smiled at her daughters’ reactions, also shared that finding clothes for the girls is difficult due to their condition.
Another challenge girls face is learning to stand and walk. Ibrahima says they can currently work for about 20 minutes a day, with the help of a walker.
She shared that her wish for her daughters was that they could have a “normal life” where they could “play and laugh with the children,” “make friends” and “develop as individuals.”
“They have achieved things that no one thought they would achieve,” he said.
The girls recently celebrated their seventh birthday with their classmates. The documentary showed how they were showered in confetti and surrounded by friends cheering “girl power” as they all threw their hands in the air.
Marieme and Ndeye seemed excited when the designer presented their new coats. The girls received two personalized jackets: one quilted (pictured) to “keep them warm” and another to “keep them dry in the rain.”
Marieme and Ndeye attend a mainstream primary school in Cardiff. They are pictured with their classmates as the group shouts ‘girl power!’
Another challenge girls face is learning to stand and walk. Ibrahima, pictured with her daughters, says they currently manage about 20 minutes a day, with the help of a walker.
“They don’t have to hide from anyone and being in a regular school shows that they are part of society,” Ibrahima said.
He added: “They are lucky to be part of this community.”
Marieme and Ndeye were born in Senegal in 2016, where doctors believed their best chance for survival was separation.
The family contacted hospitals around the world, including Belgium, Germany, Zimbabwe, Norway, Sweden and the United States, “begging” for help before opting to take the twins to London.
Ibrahima hoped that doctors at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital would be able to separate the girls and that they would be able to return to their brothers and sisters in Senegal.
Marieme and Ndeye (pictured recently) were born in Senegal in 2016, where doctors believed their best chance for survival was separation. The family contacted hospitals around the world, including Belgium, Germany, Zimbabwe, Norway, Sweden and the United States, “begging” for help before opting to take the twins to London.
Ibrahima (pictured with her daughters a few years ago) hoped doctors at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital would be able to separate the girls, but tests determined Marieme’s heart was too weak for surgery and doctors predicted she would not. would survive it. operation. In the end it was decided not to separate the girls.
But tests determined Marieme’s heart was too weak for surgery and doctors predicted she would not survive the operation.
Hospital officials helped Ibrahima deliberate the options and it was ultimately decided not to separate the girls.
Ibrahima and her daughters have been granted discretionary leave to remain in the UK so they can continue receiving medical treatment in Britain. They now live in Cardiff.
The twins’ mother returned to Senegal and takes care of her siblings.
Inseparable Sisters will be available on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from Wednesday night.