Twins Nima and Dawa arrive in Melbourne after long trip from Himalayas

AFTER a marathon journey from their Himalayan home and chaotic scenes at Melbourne Airport, conjoined twins Nima and Dawa Peldon are ­recovering in the calm of ­Kilmore bushland amid a heartwarming show of global generosity.

AFTER a marathon journey from their Himalayan home and chaotic scenes at Melbourne Airport, conjoined twins Nima and Dawa Peldon are recovering in the calm of ­Kilmore bushland.

Playing happily at the Children First Foundation’s Miracle Smiles retreat, the 14-month-old Bhutanese sisters were surrounded by other children brought from around the globe to Australia for their own life-changing operations.

SAVING NIMA & DAWA:

CONJOINED TWINS’ MERCY DASH TO MELBOURNE FOR RADICAL SURGERY

HOW NIMA AND DAWA WILL BE SEPARATED IN MELBOURNE

PICTURE SPECIAL: OVERCOMING MOUNTAINS TO GIVE CONJOINED TWINS HOPE

Mum Bhumchu Zangmo holds Nima [left], and Dawa [right] in a swing at the Children First Foundation Miracle Smiles Retreat in Kilmore. Picture: Alex Coppel

The girls had their first peaceful taste of the Australian outdoors at 370m above sea level — a world away from, and below, their village of Tashingang, 3700m up in the eastern Himalayas.

The idyllic spectacle was also a far cry from the hubub at Tullamarine at noon.

Led by security, mum Bhumchu Zangmo clung to her now-famous twins as she passed through crowds of media and wellwishers — the first time she has left her high-altitude homeland.

Bhumchu Zangmo clings to her now-famous twins Nima and Dawa as she passes through crowds of media and wellwishers at Melbourne airport. Picture: Alex Coppel

Travelling nurse Tshewang Choden pushes mum Bhumchu Zangmo in a wheelchair as she holds Nima and Dawa at Melbourne airport after the flight from Bhutan and Bangkok. Picture: Alex Coppel

Kilmore's Children First Foundation Miracle Smiles Retreat volunteer Sharyn Hood and Retreat Manager Debbie Pickering hold Nima and Dawa, as they arrive into Melbourne. Picture: Alex Coppel

For the entire 26-hour journey involving two flights and a battle through Thai immigration red tape, Bhumchu never let her daughters leave her arms.

After leaving Bhutan’s ­National Referral Hospital at 5am on Monday, the stress of the situation and the twisting mountain roads during the hour-long drive to Paro ­airport saw her struck down with motion sickness.

At Paro, regarded as the world’s riskiest landing strip, Drukair staff went out of their way to give the mum and her babies front-row seats, not ­realising the conjoined girls could not sit in the VIP row with non-folding armrests.

Mum Bhumchu holds Nima and Dawa during the flight from Bhutan to Bangkok. Picture: Alex Coppel

It didn't matter. Bhumchu would not let them leave the safety of her lap anyway.

Cabin crew captivated by Nima and Dawa even presented Bhumchu and the nurse accompanying them with a bag of food and gifts for the twins to enjoy during a 12-hour stopover at Bangkok.

When it took more than two hours to pass through Bangkok immigration so they could lay on a hotel bed, the gifts proved vital.

By the time Nima and Dawa boarded their flight to Melbourne, the Herald Sun’s story about their separation had already gone global.

Travelling nurse Tshewang Choden holds Nima and Dawa in the car after arriving into Melbourne. Picture: Alex Coppel

Mum Bhumchu Zangmo with Nima [left], and Dawa [right] at the Children First Foundation Miracle Smiles Retreat in Kilmore. Picture: Alex Coppel

Bhumchu Zangmo reads the Herald Sun at the Children First Foundation Miracle Smiles Retreat in Kilmore. Picture: Alex Coppel

An Australian school group aboard the same flight recognised the twins. And murmurs went around the flight as Thai Airways cabin crew once again gave them VIP front-row seats, this time with removable armrests.

Three other babies sat in the surrounding three rows, and all were far noisier than Nima and Dawa.

Even when her sister gave her a decent scratch above her nose, breaking the skin, Dawa barely disturbed other passengers. For the reporter and photographer travelling with them, the scratch offered the first welcome chance to tell the mirror-image girls apart.

STATE IS COMING TO THEIR AID AS WELL AS PUBLIC

VICTORIANS will pay for the care of conjoined Bhutanese twins Nima and Dawa Peldon after a heartwarming show of global generosity.

Everyday families and businesses ­donated more than $45,000 to help the twins in the hours after the Herald Sun revealed the Royal Children’s Hospital would perform their separation surgery.

There were even pledges from as far away as California and the UAE.

Premier Daniel Andrews then gave an even bigger gift, promising his ­government would award the RCH cash to cover the cost of the surgery. The amount required is not yet known, but the final bill could top $350,000.

Mum Bhumchu Zangmo hold Nima [left], and Dawa [right] at the Children First Foundation Miracle Smiles Retreat in Kilmore. Picture: Alex Coppel

The state government’s ­decision means the Children First Foundation can focus its fundraising attention on supporting the twins and their mother, Bhumchu Zangmo, during the months they will be in Australia preparing for and recovering from surgery.

“The Royal Children’s Hospital is a special place to all of us — it’s where our most precious patients get the world’s best care,” Mr ­Andrews said.

“While the hard work will be up to the extraordinary clinical team, I’m proud to do our part to help Nima and Dawa get the life-changing treatment they need to lead full and healthy lives.”

Joined at their lower chest and through their tummies, the 14-month-old sisters Nima and Dawa are, for now, facing each other with connected livers and possibly other organs.

Since offering to treat the Bhutanese babies in June, RCH surgeons have been planning complex surgery ­involving dozens of specialists split into two teams.

CFF chief executive officer Elizabeth Lodge said on Tuesday: “Thanks to this government support, all public donations can now be directed to the 24/7 care Children First will provide to the girls and their mother at our Miracle Smiles retreat. The outpouring of support for these little girls is a testament to the compassion in our community.”

Health Minister Jill ­Hennessy has directed the Department of Health to work with the RCH and CFF to ­ensure the lifesaving surgery is provided in coming weeks.

“The Royal Children’s Hospital has a long and proud history of opening its doors to infants with high acuity needs from around the world who depend on revolutionary treatment and care,” she said.

“Every day, Victorians are so inspired by the work that goes on at the Royal Children’s — and they open their hearts and give so generously to make that magic happen.”

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.

CFF chief executive officer Elizabeth Lodge now hopes the Australian public’s generosity during a fundraising campaign can match the RCH’s skill.

“These little girls are extra special because if we didn’t do this surgery … we are just concerned whether they would live,” 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 an 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 [e-mail] with the transaction details.

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