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New York City, NY (March 25, 2004) -- While conjoined Filipino twins Carl and Clarence Aguirre continue to heal from their most recent surgery, they also continue to amaze their mother with crib-climbing, food stealing and other boyish antics. As the boys approach their second birthday on April 21, they are acting more and more like typical, mischievous toddlers -- even though they are still joined at the tops of their heads.
"I have to always be watching them now," said mother Arlene Aguirre, who has lived 'crib side' with her boys since they arrived in the United States last September for the series of surgeries designed to separate them. "Clarence is the leader and once he starts doing something Carl joins right in," said Ms. Aguirre. "Their favorite trick is to try to climb out of their special bed by pulling themselves over the guardrails. They are strong and determined."
"Carl has made up a game with his IV/formula pole," said Ms. Aguirre. "He pulls on his feeding tube like it's a fishing line and reels in the pole," she said. "When he has the pole close enough to the bed, he gives a big kick and knocks it to the ground, laughing the whole time. I like that he's strong, but sometimes he is too much," said Ms. Aguirre. "My boys really like to play tricks on each other," she said. "Carl even tries to take Clarence's feeding tube so he can get more formula for himself."
The twin's doctors at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) confirm that the special nutritional and physical therapy the brothers have been getting at Blythedale Children's Hospital between surgeries is paying off.
"When Carl and Clarence first arrived, they weighed a combined 18.5 pounds and were small and undernourished, because their condition makes it difficult for them to eat," said Robert Marion, MD, the boys' lead pediatrician at CHAM. "Now they are up to a very healthy 38 pounds, 12 ounces. That's more than a fifty percent increase in six months, which is excellent," he said.
"It must be the pasta and yogurt they have learned to enjoy," said Ms. Aguirre. "It's funny because they have really different tastes and favorite foods. Carl likes salty foods and Clarence has a big sweet tooth."
Their added weight, combined with intensive physical and play therapy has made the boys stronger, bigger and much more active. In fact, the team at Blythedale is working to construct a longer, "big boy bed" because the twins have grown from 24 inches in September to a whopping 32 inches toe-to-toe, measured by doctors yesterday.
The twins' speech therapy also appears to be paying off. Both boys have progressed from not speaking at all to enjoying a working vocabulary of several words in both Filipino and English, including "hi" and "bye", "mama" and of course the word most used by two-year-olds everywhere..."no!"
Both boys have spent the winter dealing with head colds and coughs. Carl, most likely mimicking what's he's heard his caregivers say, last week for the first time put two words together and said "bad cough," a remark that took everyone by surprise.
Colds and coughs aside, the boys continue their playful ways. Clarence loves music and enjoys showing-off his now-famous wiggle dance. He tries to push his brother into a sitting position, and gives 'high-fives' at the sight of any familiar face. Carl likes musical toys, and especially loves banging cymbals and shaking castanets whenever they're available.
No date has yet been set by doctors at CHAM for the boys' next surgery. For now, the next big events in their lives will be Easter and their second birthday
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Director, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery,
CHAM
We're known around the world for successfully separating Carl and Clarence Aguirre, born joined at the tops of their heads. Our specialists care daily for children with brain tumors, spinal cord injuries and craniofacial deformities.
