In a remarkable and pioneering medical feat, a team of 30 doctors from India and around the world embarked on an extraordinary journey to separate two twins joined at the head. Jaga and Kalia, two-year-old boys originally named Honey and Singh, have shared an unbreakable bond since birth, overcoming the extraordinary odds of an 80% risk of death.
Their incredible story began in March 2015 when their mother, Pushpanjali Kanhar, a 25-year-old woman from the state of Orissa, India, was stunned to see her newly born children joined at the head. It was an unexpected turn of events during her pregnancy, and the family faced an uphill battle as no hospital in the region could offer a solution. Despite the Orissa state government’s promise to provide assistance, the family had no choice but to take their unique twins home.
Two years passed, with the family exhausting every avenue to find treatment for their beloved children. Their financial situation was dire, with Mr. Bhuan Kanhar, Jaga and Kalia’s father, earning a meager income as a farmer, just 1,600 rupees (approximately 700,000 VND) per month. He felt helpless, watching his children suffer without the means to provide them the care they desperately needed.
The Kanhar family had two healthy sons, aged 9 and 6, and they held a dream close to their hearts: to see all four of their children grow up together, healthy and happy. That dream took a significant step toward realization on October 26 when, at a hospital in Delhi, a team of 30 dedicated doctors worked tirelessly for 16 hours to separate the heads of Jaga and Kalia. It marked the first surgery of its kind in India.
During the intricate operation, it was discovered that the twins shared brain tissue and blood vessels, an exceptionally rare condition occurring in approximately 1 in 3 million births. The post-operative period posed numerous challenges for the twins. Dr. Randeep Guleria, the director of Indian Institutes of Health Sciences, emphasized that “the next 18 days will determine the success of the surgery.” A K Mahapatra, one of the doctors involved in the operation, mentioned that both babies had other health issues, with Jaga suffering from heart disease, and Kalia dealing with kidney disease. Initially, Jaga was stronger, but the dynamic began to shift.
One of the most significant challenges facing the twins post-separation was providing enough skin to cover both heads since the surgery had left substantial gaps. Maneesh Singhal, a plastic surgery expert, highlighted the imperative next step: “If they can do it themselves, the next step is to reconstruct their skulls.”
Jaga and Kalia’s journey is a testament to the indomitable spirit of the human will and the dedication of medical professionals. While their path ahead is uncertain, their story serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the incredible potential for perseverance and miracles in the face of extraordinary odds.
