Separated twins playing, eating

Twins Trishna and Krishna are continuing their amazing recovery from separation surgery by watching DVDs and eating small meals.

Royal Children's Hospital chief of surgery Leo Donnan said Trishna is now sampling little bits of bread and fruit for the first time in her life, while Krishna watched their favourite Wiggles DVD on Tuesday.

'They love The Wiggles,' said hospital spokeswoman Julie Webber.

The twins, joined at the head a week ago, were moved from the intensive care unit to a ward on Monday. They are listed in stable condition and will now share a nurse with other children.

'They're both still in fantastic shape,' Mr Donnan told reporters on Tuesday.

Their continuing recovery from the 32-hour operation has been described as remarkably smooth.

'The exciting thing is they're now starting to play,' Mr Donnan said, saying the girls are now looking at each other from separate beds in the same room and interacting.

'One of the most exciting things is the changes that's occurring,' he said.

'Trishna, who basically got her nutrition from her sister for all these years, is now starting to eat. She hasn't really done that by herself before.'

Mr Donnan says he is amazed at the twins' improvement since coming out of surgery last Tuesday.

'It just shows you the amazing sort of changes that have happened with the girls in this very short time,' he said.

Three years old next month, the twins were born in Bangladesh and brought to Australia by the Children First Foundation in November 2007.

Their mother, Lavlee Mollik, 23, handed over her girls to an orphanage in Dhaka because she and husband Kartik, 35, were unable to care for them.

Ms Mollik has said she hopes to travel to Australia to see them.

'I want to be with them. My children are my treasures,' she was quoted as saying in Dhaka on ABC TV.

On Thursday the Victorian government will hold a state reception to thank the hospital team that performed the medical marvel.

Victorian Premier John Brumby said it would be an opportunity to thank many Australians for their extraordinary achievement.

Hospital staff are 'amazed' at such a public outpouring of support, Mr Donnan said.

Up to 40 people are expected to attend the function at government house, from doctors, nurses and surgeons to those who brought the twins to Australia.

Perhaps someone should invite The Wiggles too.

(Edit:Ruby)