Conjoined twins make separated, happy trip home

By Liezle BasaInigo

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan – Following a complicated but successful surgery performed at hospital in Hualien, Taiwan to separate Pangasinan conjoined twins Jennylyn and Jerrylyn de Guzman, the siblings and their mother arrived in Manila Wednesday evening.

The twins from Bautista, Pangasinan were successfully separated last March 13 through the generous intercession of the Tzu Chi Foundation.

Jennylyn and Jerrylyn were the third pair of conjoined twins assisted by the Buddhist organization since 2003.

The latest beneficiaries lived for a year and three months sharing a stomach and a liver since their birth last December 8, 2013.

The twins’ plight was endorsed by Mario Lim and Johnson Lim,officials of PANDA Fire Brigade, a local fire volunteer’s group in Dagupan, Pangasinan to Tzu Chi Foundation in February 2013.

The Tzu Chi foundation arranged for the surgery of twins and provided them with basic needs including the facilitation of travel documents.

The twins and their mother were flown to Taiwan in January this year for a two – month continuous nutritional care in preparation for the delicate surgery.

“Thank God,Tzu Chi foundation was so supportive. I am deeply touched , that I realized how much they cared for my babies ,” said the 24-year-old mother.

Conjoined twins Lea and Rachel Awel who shared the same fate over ten years ago have sent their well-wishes for the younger twins, according to Tzu Chi.

The twins from Kalinga were the first to undergo the process of separation in 2003 through Tzu Chi Foundation in the Philippines.

The second pair of conjoined twins separated through the foundation’s initiative is Rose Carmelle and Rose Carmellete Molit from Catmon, Cebu in June 2010.

Tzu Chi foundation in Cebu continues to support them with their education.

Tzu Chi Foundation also assured that it will continue supporting Jennylyn and Jerrylyn and their family.