Efforts to save the Bhutanese sisters began more than a year ago, led by Children First Foundation who also teamed up with the Royal Children’s Hospital to separate Bangladeshi conjoined twins Trishna and Krishna.

Initially it was hoped the girls would be separated at six months old to reduce the danger and long-term impact of their condition.

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But the complexity of dealing with one of the most extreme conditions in one of the most isolated places on earth made them the most challenging of the 350-plus cases CFF has undertaken in the past 20 years, according to case worker Marina Te Maro.

At one stage a courier had to journey for days up eastern Himalayas just to get a parent’s signature on a consent form.

Another had to travel two days to New Delhi to deliver documents to the closest Australian bureaucrats as the mountains of paperwork matched the terrain.

“We have been working on this case for a year, so their mum has been trying to keep them healthy and well and that has been a challenge for her,” Ms Te Maro said.

Days after their shock arrival in July 2017, Bhutanese paediatric surgeon Dr Karma Sherbub called his Australian friend and counterpart Assoc Prof Chris Kimber at Monash Children’s Hospital, who immediately offered to investigate the case.

Assoc Prof Kimber called in CFF and they began gathering information and to bring Dawa and Nima, and their mother Bhumchu, to Monash Children’s Hospital where he would separate them.

But, in June this year, Monash decided it could not take on the highly delicate case.

The girls were immediately referred to the experienced Royal Children’s Hospital, which reviewed the medical information for weeks before deciding it could help the girls, restarting efforts to get the deteriorating girls to Melbourne.

HOW YOU CAN DONATE

With the surgery and 24/7 care Nima and Dawa will require in Australia the separation process could cost up to $300,000, so CFF chief executive officer Elizabeth Lodge now hopes the Australian public’s generosity during a fundraising campaign can match the RCH skill.

“These little girls are extra special because if we didn’t do this surgery … we are just concerned whether they would live. Because they are getting precariously unwell,” she said.

“We are just thrilled the Royal Children’s are working with us.

“They have separated conjoined twins before, Trishna and Krishna who were brought to Australia by Children First Foundation, so that expertise and knowledge will be harnessed once again.

“We will have some of the same surgeons, the anaesthetists, the theatre staff, we will have the ICU team back with us again, so we are very confident these little girls will be separated successfully and soon be able to crawl, roll, jump and run as two little independents.”

Here’s how you can help Nima and Dawa:

1: Donate by phone on our toll-free number 1800 99 22 99

2: Text TWINs to 0437 371 371 to make an online donation

3: Visit childrenfirstfoundation.org.au/donate and select Twins18 as the campaign name

4: Donate by electronic transfer via your online banking system to the account details below.

Bank: Bendigo Bank

Name: Children First Foundation (CFF Gift Account)

BSB: 633-000

Account number: 163045552

Reference: Enter your full name and “twins”

To receive a tax receipt for donations made by electronic transfer please email donations@childrenfirstfoundation.org.au with the transaction details