Against all odds: Remarkable story of a mother's fight to save her conjoined twins

Dar es Salaam. On the morning of August 25, 2021, in Sungwizi Ward’s Kifulumo Village of Igunga District in Tabora Region, 24-year-old Hadija Shaban began to experience labour pains.

Unlike the pain she endured during her first pregnancy in 2018, this time the pain was more severe.

“I was in severe pain and called my mother to let her know. It took a long time for her to arrive, thinking I’d have given birth at home,” recalls Ms Shaban.

Her husband, Mr Amir Jumanne, quickly took her to the nearby Sungwizi Dispensary, 10 kilometers away, on a motorcycle.

At the dispensary, Ms Shaban’s labour pains worsened. However, rather than her abdomen lowering as expected, it rose, prompting a referral to a better-equipped hospital.

Mr Jumanne then travelled to Mzanza Village to fetch his wife’s mother before rushing her to Nkinga Mission Hospital, about 19.7 kilometres away.

Ms Shaban recalls losing consciousness on the way to Nkinga, only to wake up and discover that she had undergone surgery.

Confused, she asked where her baby was, only to be told, “The babies are fine.”

For days later, Ms Shaban couldn’t understand why she wasn’t shown her baby.

It was four days later that she learned she had given birth to conjoined twins.

“I was shocked, but I thanked God because He knows everything,” Ms Shaban says, still trying to reflect on the situation.

Her mother instructed her not to disclose the condition of the babies and kept the information from her while she recovered from the surgery.

A week later, Ms Shaban was referred to Tabora Regional Referral Hospital and then transferred to Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam.

She learned that her husband, Mr Jumanne, was aware of their twins’ condition, but since they arrived in Dar es Salaam, he ended all communication.

“I haven’t heard from him since we left Nkinga Hospital. It’s been three years now,” Ms Shaban says.

At MNH, the twins, Hussen and Hassan Amir, spent almost two years under medical care. One of the babies gained weight while the other lost it.

“It was difficult. One was eating, while the other was refusing. Yet, the one who refused to eat ended up becoming fatter,” explained Ms Shaban.

After spending time at MNH, Ms Shaban and the babies travelled to Saudi Arabia for their separation at an advanced and specialised hospital.

She stayed for a year and two months and despite the challenges, she found comfort in knowing that finally the twins would be separated.

She faced difficulties adjusting to the different food in Saudi Arabia, “There’s no ugali. It’s rice, potatoes, and milk. But the babies were given milk, juice, and soup.”

Communication was another challenge, as Ms Shaban did neither speak English nor Arabic. However, with the help of Dr Zaitun Bokhari, a pediatric surgeon from MNH, she was able to communicate with the medical team.

“Dr Zaitun helped me when I couldn’t speak to doctors or nurses. She translated everything for me,” she says.

Dr Zaitun also taught Ms Shaban how to use Google Translate, which allowed her to communicate more independently.

Despite the language barrier, Ms Shaban learned some Arabic by attending madrasa classes.

August 2023, Ms Shaban received the news that her twins were ready for the separation surgery scheduled for October 23, 2023, a day that remains etched in her memory.

The separation surgery took over 16 hours at King Abdullah Children’s Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

A team of experts led by Dr Abdullah Rabeen and 35 nurses, carried out the operation.

Ms Shaban, unable to be in the operating room, watched anxiously from behind a glass window.

“It was terrifying, but by God’s grace, I found the courage to endure. I saw everything, from the first incision to the last stitching.

“They had three legs and were joined at the pelvis and abdomen. But by God’s grace, they were successfully separated,” she narrates.

The surgery was followed by intensive post-operative care. A week later, one of the twins, Hassan, was moved out of the ICU after several additional surgeries.

Hussein, the other twin, left the ICU sooner and did not need further operations and Ms Shaban was overjoyed to see them both doing well.

For the next year and two months, Ms Shaban and her twins stayed in a hotel near the hospital, with daily visits to ensure they were recovering properly.

During this time, the babies were fed a strict diet of milk, rice, soup, and fruits.

Ms Shaban remains deeply grateful for the medical team in Saudi Arabia and the support she received, particularly from Dr Zaitun.

“The whole journey was difficult, but by God’s grace, my children are alive and doing well,” she says, her eyes filled with gratitude.

Her journey from the remote village of Kifulumo to the advanced medical facilities in Saudi Arabia is a tale of unimaginable challenges, marked by incredible strength, hope, and a mother's unwavering love.

Ms Shaban’s resilience has carried her through the toughest moments, and today, her children are thriving, a testament to her unyielding faith and determination.