Separated twins home from Australian hospital for their birthday

Dec 21, 2009, 5:44 GMT

Sydney - The Bangladeshi conjoined twins separated by Australian surgeons were released Monday from the Melbourne hospital where the 31-hour operation was performed last month.

Trishna and Krishna, who had been joined at their heads, were taken home by legal guardian Moira Kelly in time to celebrate their third birthday Tuesday.

'They have given these two little girls a new life,' Kelly said as the girls were wheeled out of the Royal Children's Hospital. 'I can't wait to take them home.'

Doctors gave the chances of both twins surviving the marathon November 16 procedure at only 25 per cent and said each had only a 50-per-cent chance of escaping brain damage.

But the twins, who were given up at a Dhaka orphanage at birth, appeared to have sailed through the operation.

'We are absolutely delighted with their progress,' neurosurgeon Wirginia Maixner said in a statement. 'I look forward to seeing them live a long and happy life. That's my wish for them.'

Kelly, who arranged for the twins to come to Australia in 2007, is considering formal adoption.

Atom Rahman, the twins' joint local guardian along with Kelly, has said a return to their Dhaka orphanage is unlikely.