Doctors gathered yesterday at Princess Margret Hospital to celebrate the success of an historic surgery to remove a parasitic twin from a 22-day-old baby girl.
The girl's parents, who were in attendance, thanked God and the surgical staff who saved their baby's life.
"I would say thank you to all of the doctors [and] especially the nurses. From my baby [was] born, they helped my baby. I can't give you [anything] for that baby, but God knows," said Shantel Joseph, 26.
Osee Joseph, 29, said it was not easy waiting to hear the outcome of the surgery.
"It was very difficult...but we knew the good Lord was there so we knew everything was going [to be ok]," he said.
The surgery to separate the conjoined twins was performed on Wednesday and lasted approximately eight hours, doctors said, adding that there were no major complications.
The parasitic twin was not a well formed baby.  It had no sex, no normal features, and no chance at survival, according to doctors.
They said without the surgery, the baby girl (referred to as the normal baby) would have died within days.
"It has to be someone higher than us who made [it] possible for this child [to be alive],"  Chief Neurosurgeon Dr. Magnus Ekedede said at a press conference at the hospital yesterday.
"For my own part I would tell you that I've had tremendous stress. I deeply believed we can do it in The Bahamas, but then something told me, are you sure?
"It [was only] after we prayed [Wednesday] morning...I felt at ease."
Dr. Ekedede said this operation is something Bahamians everywhere should be happy about.
"If you read a few textbooks and Google this, it's not easy... [and] from my records, nothing has been done like this in the Caribbean," he said.
Dr. Ekedede said he doesn't expect the baby to have any major problems, but noted she would not be able to leave the hospital at least for another two weeks.
Dr. Gwendolyn McDeigan, director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, said, "What still remains to be seen is the function of some of the organs.
"Presently, it seems as if the leg function and neurologic function may be good.  We look forward to seeing the parents receiving a relatively healthy baby."

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