Safa and Al-Marwa are to be separated in a surgery coming Saturday. No, they are not the hillocks in the Haram, but are conjoined twins from Morocco. A team of physicians and surgeons specialized in separation surgeries, headed by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabi'ah, concluded after tests that the surgery had become a necessity. The twins who are conjoined at the chest and abdomen have one liver, one digestive system and an underdeveloped lower abdominal wall. The tests also show that Marwa suffers from congenital heart defects that will need to be corrected in future. The team of physicians has rated the chances for a successful operation to be only 60% due to these complications, said Abdullah. Heart, pediatric and plastic surgeons will also take part in the 10 hour-long operation. As the doctors prepare for surgery, we ask readers to pray to the Almighty for its success and speedy recovery of the conjoined twins. – Okaz __
