Monday, June 9, 2008

Dogaru Twins

Every now and then you come across a story that moves you. I mean, really truly moves you. Where you can’t stop thinking about them, they’re always on your mind. The Dogaru Twins did that to me.

I was watching Dateline MSNBC a few weeks ago. It was about conjoined twins who were successfully separated. I checked online for a follow up to the story and came across another set of conjoined twins in the search result.

The Dogaru Twins are 4 years old now and are joined at the head. Dad’s a Byzantine Catholic Priest and mom’s a nurse. They also have an older 6 year old sister. Maybe because the twins have never looked at one another in the eye or maybe they can’t be separated or maybe because there hasn’t been an update since last year, I haven’t stopped thinking about them since I found out about them last week. Instead, I searched all weekend for articles and updates. I’ve found more info about them, such as their condition occurs once out of 2.5 million and that only 10% of cases such as theirs live to 10 years of age.

It’s heartbreaking and I’ve thought about them and prayed for them. I just don’t understand why babies and little children have to suffer. They’re so beautiful and innocent, it tears me apart. And of course, I think of my own babies and how much they're able to do that the Dogaru girls cannot. Every day I'm thankful for L&B and after learning of the Anna & Tati, I'm even more grateful.

This morning I called the Childrens Hospital (that was going to do the surgery) for an update and there is none. They’re not checked in the hospital and they don’t even know if they’re still in the states OR if they’re still alive.

I poured all my energy this morning into finding how the twins are doing. I found articles written a year ago and contacted the writer (she no longer works for the newspaper, so then I had to do a little research on her!). Fortunately she emailed me back immediately and gave me a couple of leads. Out of the three, two fell through but I hit jackpot with the last. She suggested I contact the World Craniofacial Foundation. They helped the Dogarus and have kept in touch with them. When I called and asked for an update, the operator put me through Sue, the VP of the organization, who’s close to the family. Although she wasn’t at liberty to discuss their medical case with me, she did tell me the girls are still here in the U.S. and happy. I noticed she didn’t say ‘healthy’, but they’re happy. They’re four years old and just graduated preschool. They recently received a customized bike as a gift and are real girly-girls.

Sue relayed the cutest story to me. She visited the family recently. Anastasia, the larger twin in front, was playing happily with a doll house. Their mother, Claudia, gave a smaller house for Tatiana to play with. Anatasia got so engrossed, at one point she looked up and asked, ‘Where’s Tati?’ Tatiana replied, ‘I’m right here.’ Oh my gosh, Anastasia genuinely forgot they were attached! They both laughed over it. They’re happy for the time being, but as they get older everything is going to get more difficult for them.

Sue did give me some hopeful news, there’s a possibility of a surgery to separate them, giving them a chance at a longer life. Coincidentally she’s working on an update on the girls for the website. Hopefully it’ll be up sometime this week.

In the meantime, I’ve made a donation to the WCF and am putting together a care package for the girls. They don’t know who I am, but they’ve moved me so much I just want to send them a little something to let them know how much they mean to me.

I’m comforted to know they’re happy. I just pray for a miracle for them.

11 comments:

MamaBriggs said...

You have such a big heart!

Kj said...

What a lovely post. Thank you for sharing this. I will be following all the links.

K

Jane said...

wow! first, excellent detective work! second, they will love a package from you. third, thanks for sharing the special story. :)

Tonya Staab said...

Okay seriously hon I am so impressed with your detective work. You are such a kind and generous person and that's just one of the reason we all love you so much.

Thank you for sharing their story with us, I'm going to look up some of the links you provided.

The Romero-Schroeder said...

You are such a Great person, is hard to forget a story like that, i hope they can do the surgery for them. Does it happen to you that sometimes you just wish you never knew????, this happens to me all the time, when something or someone makes such a big impression on me that it is hard to keep my normal life if i dont do something!. I admire you for finding them!

Christy said...

you have some of the most interesting stories on here! You are such a kind hearted person and so generous and giving. Bless you... you are amazing!

Brandi said...

Lisa,
Hey just wanted to stop by and see what you guys were up too. hope you don't mind. The babes are looking big! Such cuties. Hope all is going well in your home, and happy belated birthday.

Kahuna said...

Wow! I can remember a time when the only twins that you were interested in were Jeremy and Jason London, and which one you would date if given the chance. Now you are the “Mother Teresa” of the OC… I guess that stems from having two of your own. :>)

From all the investigating that you have done, you should have a career as a private detective or investigative reporter ahead of you. Maybe you can find out what happened to that other guy from Wham!

Anonymous said...

That is so wonderful. I heard about them in 2005 and have been trying to find out any new information. thank you for the update and I pray that they will be able to find some way of seperating them safely.
Natasha--single mom

Robin said...

Thanks for posting this. I too have looked everywhere for an update, having followed the twins since they were babies!! The search led me to your site. Thanks again! I'm glad they are happy and hope that they have a future.

Anonymous said...

I also watched the dateline special, and have wondered periodically, how the two sweet babies are doing. I remember being so frustrated when they deemed the surgery too dangerous to proceed forward with. And I couldn't believe that they just ended the story there! It killed me. So, I added myself to google updates, and have gotten nothing over the past two years. I see that this post is an old one, but was glad to hear that the family is doing well, and that they have remained in the states where the possibility of future medical help is at hand.

Thanks for your research, it is nice to find SOMETHING on the internet with some sort of update! I too, will continue to pray for them!