Star

Separate lives

By Michael Esposito

24th November 2009 11:05:10 AM

Medical wonder … Children First Foundation founder Moira Kelly inbetween the separated twins after a marathon operation.

WHEN baby twins Trishna and Krishna were first handed a lifeline by a Kilmore-based children’s foundation in 2007, the chances of survival were still believed to be slender.

Last week, the conjoined twins were separated after a marathon operation at Royal Children’s Hospital, and the girls are in a stable condition.

Margaret Smith, CEO of the Children First Foundation, which is based on a 45ha farm in Kilmore, said she was overjoyed to see the three-year-old twins’ legal guardian Moira Kelly reunited with the girls after the surgery.

“When Trishna woke up (on Thursday) Moira had already had a cuddle with her,” she said.

Ms Smith said she was moved by the Kilmore community’s support of the Bangladeshi twins’ ordeal.

“The Kilmore community has been just fantastic, they’ve given us wonderful support, with their prayers, and thoughts and lighting of candles.

Children First Foundation volunteers Tony and Anne Harrigan held a vigil for the twins at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Kilmore on the day of the operation.

From 7am on 16 November to 7am the next day, the church was open for people to sign up and send their good wishes.

“The twins have been in Melbourne most of the time to be near the hospital, but they have visited the farm and all the kids at Kilmore know them,” Ms Smith said.

“The girls have such different personalities, they’re delightful.”

Ms Smith said that Ms Kelly wanted to keep the girls in Australia, and they would have to live close to the hospital for at least the next two years to remain under close medical attention.

“They may from time to time go to the foundation. Moira is based in Melbourne but spends a lot of her time in Kilmore.”

Ms Smith praised the medical team who separated Trishna and Krishna.

“We are so fortunate to be in this country with such wonderful medical expertise,” she said.

“To spend 32 hours straight is a huge effort. The level of concentration that’s required, I don’t know how they do it.”

The Children First Foundation has another six children undergoing medical operations, including maxillofacial, plastic, orthopaedic, and renal surgery.

Pat Weldon and Sally Weldon are managing the foundation while Ms Smith and Ms Kelly monitor Trishna and Krishna.

A Katherine couple has been walking with eight camels to raise money for the twins.

Russell Osborne and Ros Consoli arrived in Melbourne on Sunday and will be in Kilmore this Saturday, to end their 6000km pilgrimage.