A conjoined twin who survived a marathon separation operation has died on Christmas Eve months after surgery to divide her from her sister.
Aruna Rodrigues died after developing severe complications while being treated at the State Hospital for Children and Adolescents in Goiania, Brazil.
Her twin sister Kiraz died days after the complex procedure to separate the pair in May.
Hospital officials said the separation operation on May 10 lasted 19 hours and involved a large multidisciplinary medical team.
Aruna and Kiraz were born conjoined at the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis and underwent the procedure at 18 months old.
Doctors involved in Aruna’s care confirmed her death on social media on December 24.
In a social media post, Lead surgeon Zacharias Calil said: ‘Today, God decided to relieve Aruna’s suffering and took her to be close to her sister Kiraz, an immense pain for all of us, especially for this family that fought with courage, faith and love for their Siamese twins.’
Aruna’s father, Alessandro Rodrigues, also confirmed her death in a social media post.
Aruna Rodrigues at the State Children’s and Adolescents’ Hospital in Goiania, Brazil
Siamese twins Kiraz (left) and Aruna (right), aged 1 year and 6 months
He mentioned Aruna developed an infection, followed by a viral illness after she was transferred from intensive care to a hospital ward earlier this month.
Mr Rodrigues said: ‘The baby went through several procedures and several surgeries and she managed to overcome all of them, unfortunately, she did not overcome this last one, which was leaving the intensive care unit for the ward.’
Aruna was transferred from the ICU to the hospital ward after showing signs of improvement, following seven months of supervision, hospital officials confirmed.
But in the space of two weeks, she later developed severe respiratory complications and was transferred back to ICU.
Doctors confirmed her death at 3.51 pm after she was diagnosed with a viral infection and died from septic shock.
In a statement, the hospital said it had provided full medical and psychological support to Aruna and her family throughout her treatment.
The hospital added that it continues to provide psychological assistance to the family and asked for privacy during the mourning period.
They said she later developed severe respiratory complications and was transferred back to intensive care.
Aruna’s twin sister Kiraz (left) died days after the complex procedure to separate the pair in May
Aruna and Kiraz were born conjoined at the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis and underwent the procedure at 18 months old
Doctors diagnosed a viral infection and confirmed she died from septic shock at 3.51pm on 24th December, despite all medical efforts.
In a statement, the hospital said it had provided full medical and psychological support to Aruna and her family throughout her treatment.
The hospital added that it continues to provide psychological assistance to the family and asked for privacy during the mourning period.
