Twins Nima and Dawa arrive in Bhutan to heroes’ reception

Formerly conjoined twins Nima and Dawa have arrived home in Bhutan to a rock star welcome, with their father crying tears of joy at being able to finally hug his daughters one at a time.

Nima and Dawa Pelden and mum Bhumchu Zangmo are reunited with father Sonam Tshering in Bhutan. Picture: Alex Coppel

Formerly conjoined twins Nima and Dawa have arrived home in Bhutan to a family reunion and a rapturous reception.

Their father, Sonam Tsherang, cried with joy at being able to finally hold and hug his 20-month-old twin daughters Dawa and Nima one at a time.

Five months after the sisters — born joined at the chest — flew to Melbourne for separation surgery, they landed back home in the Himalayan kingdom on Thursday with their mum, Bhumchu Zangmo.

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Father Sonam Ushering holds Dawa as her older sister, Ugyen Choden, and mum Bhumchu Zangmo hold twin sister Nima at the Tangchog Temple after returning home. Picture: Alex Coppel

Father Sonam Tshering holds Nima. Picture: Alex Coppel

The twins’ sister, Ugyen Choden, holds Nima. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Mr Tsherang could barely describe his joy as he praised the Melbourne surgical team who saved his daughters.

“When they were taken to Australia, they were conjoined and it was very sad, I didn’t know what might happen,” Mr Tsherang said. “Now they have come home as two different persons, both are independent and walking.

“They are very bright and cute. I am very happy. They look very good, better than I thought they would.

“All these days I have seen them only in video calls, now I am so happy to see them in person.

“Last night, I could not sleep because of the happiness I was feeling. Now it is hard to describe what I am feeling.”

Bhumchu Zangmo holds the twins with father Sonam Tshering [left] and the twins’ uncle and aunt hug them upon arrival. Picture: Alex Coppel

People stopped to cheer the toddlers everywhere they went during their epic trip home.

After a private reunion between the parents and their now healthy daughters, the girls emerged from Bhutan’s Paro Airport where they were given a heroes’ welcome.

First their sister, Ugyen Choden, 17, rushed forward to embrace her parents and siblings, then dozens of wellwishers immediately surrounded the family to wrap them in white silk scarfs to purify them and give blessings for the future.

Bhutanese paediatric surgeon Dr Karma Sherbub, who cared for the twins and launched a crusade to get them treatment in Australia, was among the first to hug his special patients at the airport.

With all of Bhutan seemingly watching or waiting for their arrival, authorities allowed the parents and Dawa and Nima to enjoy a private reunion before passing through immigration controls.

After a tiring 21-hour journey during which the girls struggled to settle, Ms Zangmo said she was overwhelmed with joy at the family’s reunion.

Nima and Dawa Pelden return home to Bhutan, where they are reunited with the rest of their family. Picture: Alex Coppel

Mr Tsherang said it had been a long and difficult time for his family to be separated by half a world, but the pressure had been far greater for the girls’ mother, whom he had worried about.

“She has done a lot for the kids and I am so thankful to her,” he said.

“For me, it hasn’t been a problem other than missing my daughters, but for my wife she has undergone many problems looking out for them both on her own.

“It has been very tough, but she has taken very good care of them through a lot of difficulties.”

After leaving the airport, the family immediately went to an 800-year-old temple to pray together. They will spend a few days in Bhutanese capital Thimphu, where the twins will undergo a check-up, before travelling home.

The twins shocked local doctors when they were born unexpectedly joined at the chest in July 2017. Monash Children’s Hospital surgeon Associate Professor Chris Kimber initially answered a plea for help and teamed up with the Children First Foundation in an attempt to bring the twins to Melbourne for separation.

Nima and Dawa with mum Bhumchu in Bhutan last year, before they were flown to Australia to have lifesaving surgery. Picture: Alex Coppel

Nima and Dawa Pelden leave Melbourne for home in Bhutan with mum Bhumchu after the successful separation surgery. Picture: Alex Coppel

When Monash later decided not to go ahead with the delicate surgery, the case was referred to the Royal Children’s Hospital, which spent months planning the procedure with only rudimentary third world scans to guide its team. Meanwhile, the foundation secured visas and travel from their remote homeland.

As Dawa and Nima’s health deteriorated, they were flown to Australia on October 1 last year. Within two hours of landing, the Andrews Government agreed to fund the girls’ surgery while community members donated about $180,000 more to pay for their stay and wider care.

When examinations confirmed the girls shared a liver and potentially a bowel, hopes of a successful separation were raised.

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Nima and Dawa in a Bhutan hospital before being flown to Australia. Picture: Alex Coppel

Nima and Dawa relax on the floor at the Children First Foundation Miracle Smiles Retreat in Kilmore before the operation. Picture: Alex Coppel

Surgery was initially planned for October 12 had to be postponed when tests raised concerns about Dawa’s health just hours before they were due in the operating theatre.

They were given another four weeks to gain strength. The world held its breath when a team of more than 20 specialists spent six hours splitting the girls’ joined bodies on November 9, before RCH head of paediatric surgery Joe Crameri announced that the operation had been a success.

Surgeons separate Nima and Dawa. Picture: Supplied

Surgeons separate Nima and Dawa. Picture: Supplied

“All of the hard work and efforts over the past weeks really paid dividends today. We saw two young girls who were very ready for this surgery, who were able to cope with the surgery, and are recovering and doing well,” Dr Crameri said.

Struggling to cope with not being attached to each other, Dawa and Nima spent their first separated weeks not wanting to be more than a few centimetres apart, and constantly reaching out to each other.

But by November 27 they had recovered physically and emotionally from the surgery and were discharged to begin what was expected to be a long rehabilitation process.

By the time the girls returned to the RCH for medical checks in mid-December, the surgeons were stunned at their progress, with the girls making huge strides to learn to sit and be completely comfortable on their own.

Bhutanese twins Nima and Dawa leave with mum Bhumchu after being discharged from the Royal Children's Hospital. Picture: Alex Coppel

Mum Bhumchu Zangmo with formerly conjoined twins Dawa, left, and Nima, right. Picture: Alex Coppel

Nima and Dawa Pelden with mum Bhumchu before they leave Melbourne for home in Bhutan. Picture: AAP/David Crosling

When they had a final check-up in late January, the girls were crawling and standing, rapidly catching up on all the things they had not been able to develop while joined.

The girls were given another month to progress as plans were made to fly them home, during which time Nima began to walk solo and Dawa began stepping while holding hands.

They were ready to return to Bhutan, to be an even happier family.

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