Sarnia doc to separate Siamese twins

Once two new veins grow, Dr. Kaila plans a second two-to-three hour surgery to separate the brains and remove the original sagital sinus.

"I've met with the parents and they are eager to go ahead with the surgery," he said.

The challenge is convincing the government to allow the separation. Veena and Vani were born to destitute labourers and have been wards of the state since birth.

Dr. Kaila is leaving for India next week to meet with government officials and "expedite the process," he said. If all goes according to plan, the landmark surgery could take place in March or April.

He learned about the Siamese twins from an Indian television producer named Ramoji Rao, the same man who helped clear the red tape for Dr. Kaila to remove a terrible facial deformity from a boy named Ganesh in India two years ago.

"Other surgeons have considered separating the girls before and something always stopped them," he said. "I want the challenge.

"Sometime as doctors we are a little bit egotistical and tend to think we can do anything, but sometime we're not anywhere near as good as nature and God. So why not let the body make it's own veins?"

Dr. Kaila is a director at the Bluewater Surgical Centre in Point Edward. He is donating his time for the twins' separation but anticipates there will be expenses in India.

(Edit:Ruby)