Twins' Image Gallery now available

November 8, 2005
Ahmed and Mohamed Ibrahim return to Egypt after nearly 3 ½ years in Dallas
World Craniofacial Foundation Hosts Going Away Party for Egyptian Twins

Ahmed and Mohamed Ibrahim, the 4-year-old craniopagus twins who were successfully separated by Dallas surgeons during a risky 34-hour surgery in October 2003, are returning to their home in Egypt after nearly three and a half years in Dallas – much of that time as Medical City Children’s patients. To celebrate this momentous event in their lives, the World Craniofacial Foundation threw the boys a farewell party Nov. 5 at the American Airlines C.R. Smith Aviation Museum in Fort Worth. American Airlines provided the museum and all costs associated with the party as a gift to the boys.

The twins and their parents, Ibrahim Gad and Sabah Abou Al Wafa, were surrounded by some 200 of their friends, including many of the medical staff that have participated in their care since the boys’ arrived at Medical City Children’s on June 22, 2002.

Ahmed and Mohamed traveled a long and perilous journey to reach this point in their short lives.

The twins were born in the remote village of Qos, Egypt (about 500 miles south of Cairo). They were craniopagus twins, an extremely rare condition that happens in less than 2 percent of conjoined twins' births. They were immediately transferred to the University of Cairo Abu el-Reesh Hospital and placed under the care of Dr. Nassar Abdel Al, head of neonatal surgery. Dr. Nassar was given medical guardianship of the babies and they spent the first year of their lives as patients in the hospital under 24/7 medical care.

After craniofacial surgeon Dr. Kenneth Salyer accepted them as patients to evaluate whether they could be separated, the babies came to Dallas in June 2002, only days after their first birthday, accompanied by the two nurses and three doctors who had been caring for them at the children’s hospital in Cairo. Their father joined them that fall as doctors continued to evaluate whether separation surgery could be performed.

Once the decision was made to separate the boys, they underwent a tissue expansion surgery in April 2003 that was critical to the success of the separation surgery. Their mother, Sabah, who had seen her sons only a few times since their birth, was able to join her babies and spend a few days with them prior to the separation surgery, which took place on Oct. 11-12, 2003.

Since the successful surgery, the boys have celebrated two more birthdays in the United States, undergone reconstructive surgery on their skulls, and spent countless hours in rehabilitation therapy. Today, both are walking and talking and excited to be returning home to their brother and sister in Egypt. Departure is scheduled for Nov. 19.

The day was particularly meaningful for Dr. Salyer, who not only was responsible for bringing the conjoined twins to the United States, but who also has been their lead physician throughout their surgeries and hospital stays. He said, “These boys came looking for a miracle, and they gave us much more. We'll never forget about these boys. They have a special place in our hearts . . . .”

Dr. Salyer is the founder of the World Craniofacial Foundation, which underwrote all of the non-medical expenses involved in the family’s stay in Dallas. Medical City provided all of the medical care the boys received while patients at the hospital at no charge.

Egyptian Twins Press Releases:

• November 8, 2005 - Ahmed and Mohamed Ibrahim return to Egypt after nearly 3 ½ years in Dallas
• February 7, 2005 - Ahmed Ibrahim Undergoes Reconstruction Surgery
• February 4, 2005 - Formerly Conjoined Twins to Undergo Reconstruction Surgery
• October 8, 2004 - Ahmed and Mohamed Thriving One Year After Separation Surgery
• March 25, 2004 - Ahmed and Mohamed Discharged
• February 4, 2004 - Ahmed and Mohamed to become Outpatients Soon
• January 19, 2004 - Play is therapy for Ahmed and Mohamed
• December 24, 2003 - Ahmed joins Mohamed in physical therapy gym
• December 15, 2003 - Boys' reconstructive surgery postponed until April
• December 12, 2003 - Two months post-surgery, twins continue to do well
• December 4, 2003 - Child Life Therapy Is an Important Part of Ahmed and Mohamed’s Rehabilitation
• November 24, 2003 - Ahmed, Mohamed responding well to therapy
• November 21, 2003 - Mohamed stands upright with minimal help
• November 20, 2003 - Mohamed tolerates skin graft surgery well
• November 19, 2003 - Twins Continue Their Steady Progress
• November 17, 2003 - Ahmed and Mohamed's Progress Continues to Be Good
• November 14, 2003 - Ahmed and Mohamed Begin Next Phase of Journey
• Important dates in the lives of Ahmed and Mohammed
• A message from the twins father
• Egyptian twins are successfully separated
• Egyptian twins celebrate 2^nd birthday today in hospital-room party
• Mayoral Proclamation
• Ahmed and Mohamed Ibrahim undergo successful tissue expander surgery
• Surgeons spend months evaluating conjoined Egyptian twins
• Egyptian Twins undergo tests

For more information please visit www.egyptiantwins.com.

For information on other Medical City news, please visit our Press Room Home or Press Room Archive.