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New York, NY (August 30, 2004) Today an historic chapter ended in the story of formerly conjoined twins Carl and Clarence Aguirre -- and a new chapter is about to begin.
The now 2-year old boys, who were born joined at the tops of their heads, were successfully separated in a series of four milestone surgeries over a 10-month period at CHAM. The final surgery resulting in their actual separation took place on August 4-5, and today the healthy, feisty brothers left the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore for continuing physical and speech therapy at a facility in Valhalla, NY.
“This is a great day for Carl and Clarence, and a wonderful day for the staff at CHAM," said Dr. Peter Semczuk, vice president of Clinical Services, CHAM. "Carl and Clarence’s successful separation demonstrates the clinical capabilities of our world class children’s hospital. We are proud to have had this opportunity to make such an important difference in the lives of these two fine boys,” he said.
Carl and Clarence were given a celebrity send-off by CHAM staff, including dozens of doctors, technicians and the team of dedicated nurses who have cared for them throughout the past year. A 15-foot long, colorful banner wishing the boys "Good Luck!" was decorated by pediatric patients and displayed in the third floor window at CHAM.
Carl and Clarence were wheeled out of CHAM by Arlene and Evelyn Aguirre and their two lead surgeons, Drs. James T. Goodrich and David Staffenberg, as well as the boys' pediatrician, Dr. Robert Marion. They rode out side-by-side in a new double stroller (a gift from the MMC Pediatric Department), clutching teddy bears and other gifts from staff. The group was met with thunderous applause and the cheers of staff and community well-wishers who lined the sidewalks.
“Look at my boys, sitting side by side. This is what I have dreamed of for so long," said their mom Arlene. "Just look at them! They are gorgeous!”
Still heavily bandaged to protect their healing incisions, Carl and Clarence were dressed by their mother in bandanas imprinted with their names, and in CHAM t-shirts, dungarees and sneakers. The boys seemed to take all the happy attention and hoopla in typical, playful two-year-old stride. The boys' new side-by-side position afforded them some new diversions. On their way downstairs, Carl and Clarence engaged in a brief brotherly kicking and pushing skirmish and each tried to pull off the other's closest sneaker.
They were placed in separate ambulances for their ride to Blythedale and escorted by a police detail. Arlene went with Carl, while Evelyn travelled with Clarence. Over the course of the next year the brothers will return to CHAM for a series of surgeries to reconstruct their skulls.
"The real joy of their return for me will be seeing them back in the OR as separate patients," said Dr. Staffenberg. "We will wait and see how they continue to progress and let the boys determine when they are ready for more surgery."
“We are really delighted with their rapid recovery to-date and look forward to their continued progress," said Dr. Goodrich. "Today can only be described as a ‘medical miracle'."
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