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Joseph and Luka Banda: Difference between revisions
From Chalo Chatu, Zambia online encyclopedia
→The operation
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==The operation== | ==The operation== | ||
In December 1997, Dr. Ben Carson, an American neurosurgeon, led a team of 50 Zambian and South African specialists to separate the 11-month-old twins in what was dubbed "Operation Impossible". | In December 1997, Dr. Ben Carson, an American neurosurgeon, led a team of 50 Zambian and South African specialists to separate the 11-month-old twins in what was dubbed "Operation Impossible". The twins did not share any organs, but shared intricate blood vessels that flowed into each other's brains. | ||
The team sang hymns to get them through the marathon procedure | The team sang hymns to get them through the marathon procedure which lasted 30 hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/08/10/separated.zambian.twins/ |title=African separated twins offer hope for 'little Marias' |publisher=CNN.com |date=2002-08-10 |accessdate=2015-10-22}}</ref>The operation was successful. "Soon after separation, the babies were seeing each other for the first time," said Dr. [[Tackson Lambart]], of [[University Teaching Hospital]] (UTH), who was among the Zambian team in the operation. | ||
In 2001, the twins were fitted with artificial skulls to permanently close their heads, and are neurologically normal. In an interview, Dr. Carson stated about the operation: | In 2001, the twins were fitted with artificial skulls to permanently close their heads, and are neurologically normal. In an interview, Dr. Carson stated about the operation: | ||
