When twin girls were born in a hospital in Pakistan, their arrival marked the start of an extraordinary journey. They were craniopagus twins — joined at the head — a condition so rare that it occurs in only a tiny fraction of births worldwide.
From day one, doctors warned of the dangers: not only were their skulls fused, but their brains shared acomplex web of blood vessels, making any future separation extremely high-risk.
Still, their parents held on to hope, praying daily for a miracle — for the day they could hold each daughter in their own arms.
For the first three years of life, Manal and Mirhi did everything side by side — eating, sleeping, learning to talk. But as they grew, doctors said they would need to be separated to have any real chance at an independent life.
At age three, their parents faced the hardest decision of all. A team of surgeons believed the girls had a real chance — but the operation would be long, complex, and uncertain.
The family traveled to Turkey, where doctors at Bilkent City Hospital had experience with similar cases. Using 3D modeling and mixed-reality simulations, the surgical team prepared for months, studying every detail of the twins’ anatomy.
The girls’ health was carefully stabilized, their bodies strengthened, and every risk weighed. Finally, after endless planning, the day of surgery arrived.
Over 14 tense hours, doctors slowly separated the shared blood vessels and brain tissue. The final step was to rebuild each girl’s skull.
Then came the moment everyone had prayed for: both girls survived.
In the days that followed, Manal and Mirhi began to recover—breathing on their own, responding to voices, and healing faster than expected. Their parents were finally able to hug each child individually for the first time in three years.
The girls are now in rehabilitation, learning to move, sit, and eventually walk as independent individuals. Though recovery will take time, doctors are confident their futures are bright.
Manal and Mirhi’s story is already inspiring millions around the world — a powerful reminder that courage, science, and love can turn the impossible into reality.
