Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Four-week-old conjoined sister dies

Pa
Friday 26 December 2008 14:40 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Conjoined twin Faith Williams has lost her battle for life, four weeks after she was born.

Faith survived surgery to separate her from twin sister Hope but died yesterday "from the complexities of her condition".

Professor Agostino Pierro, head of Great Ormond Street Hospital's surgical team, said: "She required the full range of skills of our intensive care staff, and underwent a number of further procedures.

"However, she succumbed to the complexities of her condition."

The twins were born on November 26. Hope died following surgery to separate them at the beginning of the month. They were joined from the breastbone to the top of the navel and had a shared liver but separate hearts.

Their parents Aled Williams, 28 and mother Laura, 18, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, maintained a constant vigil at their bedside. Mrs Williams is Britain's youngest mother to give birth to conjoined twins.

Prof Pierro said: "While this is a sad outcome, it is not an unexpected one."

Faith underwent surgery earlier this month to assist with her circulation. "The aim was to ensure more blood flows to her body and less through her lungs," a spokeswoman for the hospital said.

Following the heart surgery the baby had another operation to close her chest. Hope failed to survive the initial operation to separate her from Faith because her lungs were too small to support her breathing.

A hospital spokesman said: "Mr and Mrs Williams have asked us to say that they were very happy with the care they and their children received at Great Ormond Street."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in