Hospital says $125,000 needed for operation to separate Egyptian twins

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DALLAS, Texas (AP) -- Surgery to separate conjoined 22-month-old Egyptian twins could be delayed or canceled unless $125,000 is raised to help offset the estimated $2 million cost, a hospital official said.

Children's Medical Center of Dallas said it cannot donate its part of Ahmed and Mohamed Ibrahim's care because the expense could hurt the hospital's main mission of caring for North Texas children.

The World Craniofacial Foundation, which is sponsoring the 22-month-old twins, said it cannot afford the operation, either.

"One surgery could completely wipe out all the funds of the foundation," director Sue Blackwood told The Dallas Morning News for Wednesday's editions.

The twins were brought to Dallas 10 months ago by a surgical team at Medical City Dallas hospital. Doctors were to perform the surgery there, but after reviewing the boys' condition, they decided they preferred to operate at Children's because it has the needed technology, said Dr. Kenneth Salyer, a craniofacial specialist and leader of the boys' surgical team.

The trouble is, Children's said it can't afford to take part. Other operations after the main separation surgery would take place at Medical City. The doctors are waiving their fees.

The twins are joined at the crowns of their heads, the rarest type of conjunction, and complex surgery is needed to untangle blood vessels in the boys' brains.

Doctors said the operation needs to happen soon. The older the boys become, the more their neurological tissue loses the ability to heal from the operation, they said.

For now, they are staying at an apartment paid for by the World Craniofacial Foundation.

Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim, the boys' father, said through a translator that he wants his boys separated, "so they can have a chance to live like any other human beings."

If too little money is raised, he said he would still feel blessed.

"I will take them home. I will take care of them," the father said. "My family will love them as always."

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