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A surgeon who successfully separated conjoined twins will be farewelled at a funeral service today in Hamilton - just a day after the twins' parents told their story for the first time.
The twins, Abbey and Sarah, featured on TVNZ's Sunday programme last night - 2 years after they were separated in the first procedure of its type in Australasia.
David Clews, who performed a crucial part of the 22-hour operation at Waikato Hospital in 2004, died last week aged just 48.
The twins' parents, Melissa and Callan, said Mr Clews was one of New Zealand's true gentlemen.
"There are no words we can find that are great enough to describe his contribution to our family," they said.
Melissa, 26, and Callan, 34, dedicated last night's programme to Mr Clews. It was the first time the identity of the twins and their family had been made public but the family did not want to reveal their surname or home town.
The girls, nearly 3, are healthy, fit and full of life, though they will still need some surgery as they grow.
"I just hope that everything is as normal as it possibly can be and that they are happy," said Callan.
The couple spoke about the first five months before their daughters were separated and admitted there were some hard times.
"I look back at those five months and think, 'God, how did we do it'?" said Melissa.
When the operation was done, there were fewer than 30 reported cases worldwide of the separation of pygopagus twins, joined at the lower spine and pelvis. It was only the second case of conjoined twins being successfully separated at Waikato Hospital. The first was in 1987.
The couple spoke about the moment the girls woke up after the operation.
Callan told how they immediately reached out for each other's hands, "the hands that they used to hold when they were together".
Melissa said: "We got to cuddle them by themselves. It was just amazing."
She also said she would tell the girls what they had been through when they were old enough to understand. "What they've survived is just amazing. We are not ashamed of the girls and want them to grow up knowing we are so proud of them."
Mr Clews was a surgeon at Waikato Hospital from 1992 until last September, when ill health forced him to retire.
He never revealed the illness that cut short his career and eventually claimed his life.
In an interview when he was appointed an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year's Honours list, he said he was pleased and satisfied with his professional life.
"I am sorry it has come to a premature end, but that is the reality.
"It has been a huge challenge but a privilege to work with so many families that struggle with children with disabilities and handicaps that are inspiring in their own way."
Paediatric surgeon Askar Kukkady pulled together a team of 55 doctors, nurses and other professionals to perform the operation. Mr Clews' challenge was to separate the twins' spines.
Mr Kukkady said he had worked with other paediatric orthopaedic surgeons around the world and Mr Clews was "by far the best".
"I am extremely proud of everyone involved not only for giving their very best but also for keeping the interests of the family at heart. The end result is two happy, healthy girls living just like any other 2-year-old twins."
Mr Clews' funeral will be held at the Chapel of Christ the King at St Paul's Collegiate in Hamilton at 2pm.
