Nima and Dawa comfort each other as they recover from miracle surgery

THE first pictures of Nima and Dawa Pelden recovering from separation surgery with their mother Bhumchu Zangmo show them laying on their backs and apart for the first time.

NIMA and Dawa Pelden are comforting each other as they come to terms with the enormity of being separated.

Despite having the freedom to be apart for the first time in their lives the Bhutanese sisters remain by each others side, preferring to rest in the same bed as they reach for each other.

In the hours following Friday’s groundbreaking separation surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital Nima and Dawa were placed in intensive care, where they had to recover in separate beds.

But as their condition improved and they woke the sisters were returned to the same hospital room they shared before surgery, where they continued to reach out for each other.

TWINS NIMA AND DAWA SUCCESSFULLY SEPARATED

AUSSIE CHILDREN SUPPORT NIMA AND DAWA

CONJOINED TWINS’ MERCY DASH FROM BHUTAN

The decision was made to place the girls in the same cot together where they snuggle so tightly the appear the same as before surgery when covered by a blanket.

Surgeons at the Royal Children’s Hosptial with twins Nima and Dawa before their separation surgery.

Conjoined twins, Nima and Dawa, are prepped for their separation surgery at the Royal Children’s hospital. Picture: Alex Coppel

Bhumchu Zangmo keeps a vigil over daughter Nima Pelden in the hours following the twins’ separation surgery.

Dawa Pelden lies on her back for the first time as she recovers from separation surgery with her mum, Bhumchu Zangmo, by her side.

While Nima and Dawa are now able to lay on their backs for the first time, the shock of so many changes has seen medical staff place towels around them so they remain on their sides, facing towards each other, where they are most content.

Mother Bhumchu Zangmo is keeping a vigil her 15-month-old formally conjoined daughters, supported by Bhutanese doctor Karma Sherub and nurse Tshewang Choden, as well as Children First Foundation volunteers.

When Ms Zangmo has a rest, RCH nurses have sung Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to calm the girls, though in English rather than the Bhutanese words they are used to.

CFF chief executive Elizabeth Lodge said just seeing the girls so healthy and safe after surgery was an bigger thrill than noticing they are now separated - when not covered by a blanket.

“Nima lay on her back whch was something she has never been able to do, but she reached out to find her sister...and Dawa has still been wrapping her leg around Nima,” Ms Lodge said.

“In a moment when they were both unsettled it was each other they reached for. Both of them independently did it.

“Seeing them reaching for each other is just heartwarming.

“The separation is not the biggest thing, it is just seeing them doing so well.”

Dawa continues to sleep more, though is still disturbed by the louder and more dominant Nima, just as their relationship has been for the first 15 months of life.

The RCH released a statement on Saturday confirming the twins’ strong recovery.

“Twins Nima and Dawa are both in a stable condition, and recovering on a ward,” the RCH statement said.

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