A conjoined twin who survived a pioneering operation to separate her from her sister has tragically died, just months after the complex procedure.
A Courageous Fight for Life
Aruna and Kiraz Rodrigues were born conjoined at the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis. The twins were just 18 months old when they underwent a monumental 19-hour separation surgery on May 10. The operation took place at the State Hospital for Children and Adolescents in Goiania, Brazil.
While her sister Kiraz sadly passed away days after the surgery, Aruna initially showed promising signs of recovery. She was moved from the intensive care unit to a general hospital ward, offering a glimmer of hope to her family.
A Sudden and Tragic Turn
After seven months of specialist care in hospital, Aruna's condition deteriorated. Within two weeks of leaving the ICU, she developed severe respiratory issues and had to be readmitted to intensive care.
Doctors diagnosed the toddler with a viral infection. Despite receiving treatment, she succumbed to septic shock at 3.51pm on Christmas Eve.
Lead surgeon Zacharias Calil confirmed her death on social media on December 24. In an emotional video message, he stated: ‘Today, God decided to relieve Aruna’s suffering and took her to be close to her sister Kiraz. This is an immense pain for all of us, especially for this family that fought with courage, faith and love for their Siamese twins.’
A Family's Heartbreaking Loss
Aruna's father, Alessandro Rodrigues, shared details of his daughter's arduous medical journey on social media before her passing. He revealed the extent of her struggle, saying: ‘The baby went through several procedures and several surgeries and she managed to overcome all of them. Unfortunately, she did not overcome this last one, which was leaving the intensive care unit for the ward.’
The hospital issued a statement confirming that Aruna and her family received comprehensive medical and psychological support throughout the entire treatment process. The loss of both twins marks the end of a profoundly challenging chapter for the Rodrigues family, who showed remarkable resilience and love throughout the ordeal.
