Australian doctors marvel as separated twins eat, sleep, play

Nov 24, 2009, 9:20 GMT

   Sydney - The Bangladeshi conjoined twins separated in a marathon operation in Australia last week are eating, watching videos and playing like other infants their age, doctors at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital said Tuesday.

   'They're both still in fantastic shape,' Leo Donnan, head of surgery, told reporters. 'The exciting thing is that they are now starting to play.'

   Krishna and Trishna, who were joined at the head, were in a Dhaka orphanage before they were brought to Australia two years ago.

   Brain scans of the 2-year-olds showed no damage from the 31-hour surgery and there is optimism both could make a full recovery.

   'Trishna, who basically got her nutrition from her sister for all these years, is now starting to eat. She hasn't really done that by herself before,' Donnan said. 'It just shows you the amazing sort of changes that have happened with the girls in this very short time.'

   The twins, whose third birthday is next month, are expected to stay in Australia. Their parents, who lost their rights when they gave Krishna and Trishna to the orphanage, told Bangladeshi media on the weekend that they wanted the girls to stay in Melbourne.