
Rose Carmel and Rose Carmelette Molit arrived in Taiwan on March 31. At birth, the twins were joined at the spine, sharing an area 36 centimeters in circumference, including about 2.5 centimeters of entangled nerves that created a Y-shape at the base of their backs. The operation was a complicated and dangerous procedure, requiring a medical team of 20 people, who reviewed every step of the procedure and met 10 times before confirming that the girls were healthy enough to attempt it.
The operation began at 0918 on June 5, when Peng made the first cut. After removing the tissue enlargement device, surgical teams took over and began the most difficult part of the procedure. Then neurological specialists helped to separate the spine; then the surgeons took over again, separating the anus, the colon and the perineum. The separation procedure took a total of four and a half hours.

When the two girls woke up after the operation, they suddenly found themselves different to what they had been before. It was an uneasy feeling, according to Lin Meifen, deputy head nurse at the hospital’s pediatric centre: "After separation, children who once shared a single body feel very insecure. It is a completely new feeling for them. They sleep a little, then wake up suddenly, as if half of them has gone missing - and start to cry."
For the staff at the Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, it was the second operation to separate conjoined twins and the first in which they were joined at the pelvis. For the first time, the girls were able to turn themselves over and soon would be taking their first steps into the wide world as individual persons. Zhang Ruizhen, a doctor at the pediatrics department, said that, for the girls, an early separation was a very good thing, in terms of development or maturity. “Obviously, their development will be better, because by their sixth or seventh month they will be able to sit up - and on their own. This gives them more opportunity for exercise and stimulation, so they will eat and digest better, as well."
![[Left photo] The medical team performs the surgery to separate the conjoined twins. (Photo by Huang Sih-ci); [Right photo] Emile (left), the twins’ mother, sees her daughter individually for the first time. Volunteer, Chen Li-chun (right), is happy to see the surgery went well, who accompanies the mother and twins from the Philippines. (Photo by Hsiao Yao-hua; date: 06/05/2010; location: Hualien Tzu Chi Medical Center)](/en/images/stories/Missions/Medicine/138_1.jpg)

After four months away, Emile really missed her home and family. When she knew the date of her return, she eagerly telephoned her family with the good news. Her face that was filled with trepidation and worry when she arrived was transformed into joy. "The Tzu Chi volunteers are kind, very kind," she said.
Before they left Hualien, the hospital staff held a farewell celebration for Mother and her two daughters, preparing a cake to send them off. Then the three visited Master Cheng Yen at the Jing Si Abode. One of the girls sat comfortably in the arms of Master Cheng Yen. She gave them her blessing and reminded Emile to take extra care of their health. She presented a gift of a red envelope, as a symbol of this blessing and with her hope that the twins will grow up happy and healthy when they return home.
Emile’s eyes were filled with tears of joys. She simply could not put her gratitude into words and looked forward to a bright future ahead.
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