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New York City, NY (October 8, 2004) -- Two months after the historic surgery that separated them at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM), Carl and Clarence Aguirre are "blossoming," according to Robert Marion, MD, the boys' pediatrician at CHAM since their arrival in the United States in September 2003.
Carl and Clarence are the first craniopagus twins in history to survive surgical separation with no evidence of neurological damage or deficit. The boys were separated in an historic series of four surgeries over a one year period at CHAM.
"They really are more and more sensational every day," said Dr. Marion. "I spent about an hour with them today, watching them at a physical therapy session and at school."
"The marvelous thing for me, having worked with them as conjoined twins for a year and then being at CHAM for the 17-hour final separation surgery, is to see them forming a relationship as separate brothers," explained Dr. Marion. "They did not have this kind of relationship before, even with all their moving in tandem preceding the operation."
"They never seem to be in their rooms anymore," said Dr. Marion. "Nurses will see them in the toddlers' classroom or one will be in speech therapy with the other having recreational time elsewhere in the facility...it's just extraordinary."
Doctors are heartened by the progress Carl and Clarence have shown in developing the strength of their neck and trunk muscles, weak from having had to lie on their backs and sides for the past two-and-a-half years.
"Recent weeks of therapy have yielded much better trunk control, and the "harnesses" in which their heads are supported allow for great leaps in muscle strength improvement," said Dr. Marion. "Carl can hold his head up for almost a minute now. Clarence, the smaller of the boys, is adding a few more seconds every day as he works in therapy."
"It's to the point now where they can also lift their heads and reposition them without assistance. This was a big breakthrough that occurred only this week," said Dr. Marion. "They are standing with the use of a "stander", and seem to really like being in the upright position," he said.
While Carl and Clarence have not made too much progress yet in terms of speech, they are learning some sign language, which has been shown to improve verbal speech in children with speech delay. According to Dr. Marion, both boys have picked up a few signs and have begun communicating using them.
"It's going to be a long, hard climb for these guys, and as long as they keep making progress in fine and gross motoric and communication areas, we can be optimistic about their future," said Dr. Marion.
The boys and their mother, Arlene Aguirre, are at Blythedale Children's Hospital in Valhalla, New York, for rehabilitation until they begin a series of reconstructive and plastic surgeries at CHAM some time before the end of 2004
As Clarence and Carl thrive, CHAM Doctors Receive Local and International Honors
Dr. James T. Goodrich and Dr. David A. Staffenberg, co-leaders of the boys' surgical team at CHAM, have not yet set a date for the boys' next procedures, but continue to receive multiple honors, local and international, for the historic surgery.
On Wednesday, three representatives from the civic board of the boys' hometown in The Philippines, Silay City, Negros Occidental, presented a proclamation to the two doctors at CHAM, and on Sunday The Bronx County Medical Society honored Drs. Goodrich, Staffenberg, and Dr. Allan Brook, Montefiore's Director of interventional neuroradiology.
On October 13th, Mayor Michael Bloomberg will become the latest official to recognize CHAM and the team responsible for this historic medical miracle. Montefiore's "Team Aguirre" -- the surgical team of doctors, nurses and technicians who performed the series of surgeries on the boys -- will be honored at City Hall, receiving the New York City's 2004 Science/Technology Award for outstanding achievement.
Given the unusual challenges this case presented to the CHAM team during the past year, Drs. Goodrich and Staffenberg say they are delighted that the team as a whole will be honored by Mayor Bloomberg on behalf of the people of New York City.
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