Conjoined twins
In 1946 Barbados claimed, erroneously it would appear, the first birth of Siamese, or conjoined, twins in the West Indies:
Daily
Gleaner, March 20, 1946
Barbados Mother Proud Of Siamese Twins
BARBADOS March 7:
Barbadians
are trekking in their hundreds to see
the first Siamese twins to be born in
the
West Indies . . . more >>>
Clearly there must in fact have been other, earlier, births of conjoined twins in the West Indies, which likely caused little comment except in the local community which probably accepted them as one of the eccentricities of nature which occurred from time to time. I have no idea which West Indian island could claim the first birth of 'Siamese' twins, but there is a very clear reference to such a birth in Jamaica nearly four decades before the birth in Barbados:
Daily
Gleaner, October 13, 1908
SIAMESE TWINS.
A
case of the birth of Siamese twins
occurred during last week at the Victoria Jubilee
Lying-in Hospital. Both children were of the
same sex, and the upper portions of the
body
were joined. In other respects they were separate, but they did not live very long.
Less than two decades later a prominent doctor in St James delivered conjoined twins, which like the earlier twins survived only briefly.
Daily
Gleaner, June 29, 1922
At John's Hall, St James
(From a Correspondent)
A
few days ago Dr. A. A. Vernon was
called to see a woman in the Mt. Zion district. She
was taken in his
car to his new hospital, upstairs of
the Montego Bay laboratory. The
woman gave
birth to what were intended by nature
to be female
twins, but what turned out
to be a creature with two separate heads, four arms, four hips, and four legs. The doctor is preserving it to send away to his Alma Mater, the University College hospital of London.
Another set of conjoined twins was born in 1954, and, in spite of the earlier birth there in 1908, this was apparently believed to be the first such birth at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital in Kingston:
Daily Gleaner, February 6, 1954
Siamese twins born at Jubilee
SIAMESE
GIRL TWINS were born yesterday morning at
9.45 at the Victoria Jubilee
Maternity
hospital for the first time in the
history of that institution. The babies, born dead,
were joined at the chest.
The
birth was to a pauper mother of a
Whitfield Town address who had been in the
maternity ward for two days previous.
Dr. Parboosingh, Sister V. Mullings, and Nurse B. Panton made the delivery. The mother, who had been some four hours in labour, was reported be strong and doing well.
She
has borne four other children, eldest of
whom she said was “about four years
old.” The
father of the twins “is sick and not working." she added.
The
bodies of the twins were taken to the
University College Hospital of the West Indies to
be preserved there.
Considerable
interest in the unusual birth was aroused
in the hospital and as the news
spread about the city many visitors attended there in an effort to see the twins. But they had been put away from the observation of the curious.
In 1962 another pair of conjoined twins were 'still-born', this time in Falmouth:
Daily
Gleaner, July 13, 1962
Siamese twins born dead at Falmouth
FALMOUTH, July 12 (From our correspondent):
Trelawny
created history yesterday when at 1.50 a.m.
in the Public General Hospital
Maternity
Ward, Siamese twin girls were born to
25-year-old Miss Clover Headley of
Whyms Rd., Somerton. The twins, joined at the chest, were born dead.
In 1977 conjoined twins were born in Annotto Bay, as part of a set of triplets; it seems likely that, at least, the earlier conjoined twins born in Falmouth, had been known of in Annotto Bay.
Daily Gleaner,
August 17, 1977
TWINS IN TRIPLETS
Triplets including Siamese twins were born to a 17 year old girl in the Annotto Bay Hospital last Saturday. All three died.
The
combination is believed to be the first
of its kind in Jamaica although early reports said
it was the second Siamese birth
recorded, with the difference that in the first there were only
two girls, unlike the present where there were two girls and a boy.
Hospital sources said Miss Beverly Addison, 17, of Camberwell, St. Mary gave birth first to a boy at 6 a.m. Then at 8.25 a.m. she had twin girls joined from the abdomen.
By 1983, when the next conjoined twins were born, there seemed to be a real possibility that they could be separated. Unfortunately, since the twins shared one, not properly formed, heart, separation was impossible, but every effort had been made to access the most modern techniques available.
Sadly, most of the conjoined twins born in Jamaica seem to have been of the thoracopagus (joined face to face, often from chest to umbilicus) type, which is the most common. Unfortunately some 90% of thoracopagus conjoined twins cannot be surgically separated because so many have shared hearts and other serious problems.
It may be hoped that the next time Jamaica welcomes a pair of conjoined twins, the outlook for them may be more optimistic than it has been for their predecessors.
Sadly, most of the conjoined twins born in Jamaica seem to have been of the thoracopagus (joined face to face, often from chest to umbilicus) type, which is the most common. Unfortunately some 90% of thoracopagus conjoined twins cannot be surgically separated because so many have shared hearts and other serious problems.
It may be hoped that the next time Jamaica welcomes a pair of conjoined twins, the outlook for them may be more optimistic than it has been for their predecessors.
Daily Gleaner, December 9, 1983
Siamese girls born at Jubilee; organs joined
A pair of Siamese twins, two of triplets, was delivered to a 25-year-old mother at Victoria Jubilee Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
This is the third such delivery at the hospital [ right! ] and it has created much excitement among the members of staff. But for the mother there was much concern.
A decision has not yet been taken by the paediatric surgeons to operate but the possibility is that it this cannot be done here, efforts will have to be made to do it abroad and funds will be required for such an undertaking.
The twins, who are girls, have a combined weight ot 11 Ibs 14 1/2 ozs and are "doing very nicely". They were brought into the world by caesarian section, the first for the mother.The other baby, a boy, weighs 8 Ibs 5 ozs.
The girls are joined from mid-chest to the navel and share common organs. Doctors said
yesterday further investigations would have to be done to ascertain which organs are joined. It is understood that the problem with the surgery is that they will have to be separated.
The situation surrounding this union is that the separation process is incomplete.
Under normal circumstances, the fertilised egg would be divided into two and would result in identical twins but this was not completed so there was a union of certain parts of the body.
There have been cases in the world where the twins remain joined for up to a year.
The mother who already has two boys, eight years and 1 year and 11 months, said she would be very glad if the doctors could go ahead and do the operation and she was considering how to cope with the situation. She said she was only prepared for two babies.
The mother, a ward assistant at one of the Corporate Area hospitals said; "up to now I cannot really think they are my children".
So scared was she about the situation that it was only yesterday morning that she went to look
at the babies. She said she was encouraged by the doctor and the members of staff to go ahead and look at them. She was so nervous, on hearing the news that she started to cry.
It has been a trying time for the mother who had been in hospital some three weeks before delivery. She was advised by her doctor to enter hospital because of the possibility that she
might have developed premature labour as a result of the weight she was carrying. She first
knew that she was going to have twins in August and only learnt of the presence of the third baby last week. "When I heard of the third baby I started crying. I was only prepared for two
babies and am considering how I am going to cope".
Hers is an unusual case and we hope that the operation will be undertaken and that things will work out well for the family.
Daily Gleaner, December 12, 1983
Government will assist Siamese twins — PM
The faces of the Nursing Sisters, nurses, patients and the mother of the Siamese twins born on Thursday, at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital lit up like Christmas trees when they learned that Pnme Minister Edward Seaga has taken interest in the case and wished to know what the Government could do to assist.
Said Sister Carmen Steward, "we at the hospital have been wondering what is going to happen to these twins They are healthy babies."
The mother, Miss Janet Clarke, had hoped,to have only one more child to bring the number of her children to three. Instead, she had triplets, including the twins. The other child was a bouncing 8 Ibs boy
Now Miss Clarke has five children, instead of three - which is quite a difference. The nurses and doctors at the hospital are doing everything possible to save the lives of the Siamese twins.
Dr Heather Whyte, pediatrician at the hospital said that doctors are still investigating the possibility of surgery. "The probability is that we will have to send them abroad for surgery," she said.
Dr. Whyte explained that tjlje expenses of the surgical operation abroad and the air-fares are well beyond the reach of the twins' parents.
On Saturday afternoon, Prime Minister Edward Seaga consulted with Dr. Kenneth Bauth, Minister of Health, on what action needs to be taken to give the twins the best chance of survival
Mr. Seaga said that if surgery is to be undertaken the Government will have to meet the expense. "It cannot be expected that the poor parents could find the financial resource necessary for this operation, nor can it be expected that they should watch the twins die for the sake of medical help," Mr. Seaga said. "All that is necessary is to determine whether
surgery can help them to survive and if so no effort will be spared to save their lives."
"Miss Clarke can rest assured that our hearts are with her at this time and we will do whatever is necessary to save.the two children," the Prime Minister added.
Daily Gleaner, December 13, 1983
Further tests for Siamese twins
The Siamese twins delivered to 25-year-old Janet Clarke at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital last Tuesday afternoon will be transferred to the Bustamante Hospital for Children today for further investigations.
Victoria Jubilee does not have the equipment to do the necessary investigations. Surgery will be attempted, depending on the results of the investigations. Doctors at Jubilee say that investigations for children are best carried out at the Bustamante Hospital. The care of the
twins is being transferred to a team at Children's.
The Gleaner understands that the twins will probably be kept in the hospijal until the time for surgery and that surgery may not be done until they are six months. The doctors still do not know which organs are joined. The girls are joined from mid-chest to the navel and share common organs.
There is a possibility that if the surgery cannot be done here, efforts will have to be made to have it done abroad. Prime Minister Edward Seaga, who has shown interest in the case, in a statement in the Gleaner yesterday,said 'that if surgery was to be undertaken the Government would meet the expense. "Miss Clarke can rest assured that our hearts are with her at this time and we will do whatever is necessary to save the two children," he said.
When told about the offer of help by the Government, Miss Clarke's reaction was, "1 would not mind the help". She is aware of the steps being taken by the doctors to assist the children but is still disappointed about the matter and says, "I do not know how to manage them". As the twins leave today to be taken care of at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, Miss Clarke leaves for home to take care of the other baby which was delivered with the twins. A boy, he is said to be doing fine.
Daily Gleaner, December 22, 1983
Siamese twins off to Canada
The Siamese twins born to 25-year-old Janet Clarke at the Victoria Jubilee have been transferred to the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children for specialised investigations.
The girls who were transferred to the Bustamante Hospital for Children last week, left the
island on Monday accompanied by Dr. Bill Dennis, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, and Dr.
Cherry Bridge-Leak, Consultant Anaesthetist.
Investigations carried out at the Children's Hospital suggested that the babies had one heart and one liver. A decision was then taken to transfer them to Canada for specialised
investigations to determine whether the organs could be separated.
Studies will be carried out on the heart to sort out the problem there. The girls are under the
supervision of Professor Richard Rowe, Head of the Department of Cardiology.
They were taken to Canada by the national airline, Air Jamaica, with expenses being undertaken by the Government.
Daily Gleaner, December 24, 1983
Jamaican Siamese twins to be operated on in Canada
A decision has been taken to perform surgery on the Siamese twins who were
transferred from the Bustamante Hospital for Children to the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children in Canada on Monday, but as yet no date has been set.
The twins, born to 25-year-old Janet Clarke at the Victoria Jubilee (Maternity) Hospital on December 6, were transferred to Toronto for specialised investigations.
They were accompanied by Dr. Bill Davis, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, and Dr. Cherry Bridge-Leak, Consultant Anaesthetist, both of the Bustamante Hospital for Children. The girls had been transferred to Children's from Victoria Jubilee. Dr. Davis and Dr. Bridge-Leak returned to Jamaica on Thursday.
The investigations carried out included an echocardiogram which showed that the girls have a single heart. However, the more important study was the cardiac catherterization which showed that although there is one heart, each part has its own entry for blood and the organ
was functioning as two hearts. In this respect there is a possibility for separation. The catherterization shows how blood is.flowing through the heart and the different chambers.
The girls, who are joined from mid-chest to navel, also have one liver but two different systems. A team of 20 doctors is working on the case and a decision has been taken to
go ahead with surgery.
Daily Gleaner, December 29, 1983
Surgery on Siamese twins cancelled
Doctors in Canada who have been dealing with the Jamaican-born Siamese twins have decided not to go ahead with surgery because the defects of the single heart which they share have made it impossible to plan a separation The babies will be returned to Jamaica in
due course
This decision was communicated over the Christmas weekend to doctors at the Bustamante
Hospital for Children from where the twins were transferred to the Toronto Hospital tor Sick Children on December 18.
Sources close to the situation told the Gleaner that a decision was taken not to try to perform surgery because it was not practical. The doctors were unable to do surgery because of the problem with the single heart. The heart is not a normal one and is very detective There are inborn defects which make it impossible to plan a separation and, according to the source, this has confirmed the doctors' worst fears.
The considered opinion is that the doctors will not go through with the surgery and the babies will be returned to Jamaica The twins' mother has been informed of this new development but her reaction to this has not been ascertained There is disappointment over the matter, however, in local medical circles
The initial recommendation was for the doctors to go ahead with surgery, but at that time the investigations were not completed. Now, however, the decision has been reversed.
The girls, born to 21 year old Janet Clarke at the Victona Jubilee Hospital on December 6, are joined from mid-chest to navel and also have one liver. They were transferred to Toronto for specialised investigations accompanied by Dr Bill Dennis, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, and Dr Cherry Bridge-Leak, Consultant Anaesthetist, both of Children's Hospital.
Investigations carried out included an echo-cardiogram which showed that the girls have one heart and a cardiac catherterizarion which showed that although there is one heart, each part has its own entry for blood.
Reports have stated that without corrective heart surgery the twins would probably not live beyond the age of 20. Further reports also state that the doctors believe that if surgery is attempted there will only be a 2 per cent chance of the twins making it out of the operating theatre.
The matter of trie twins life expectancy was not discussed with the team at the Bustamante Hospital, but Siamese twins have been known to live tor many years In fact, atMc- pair ot Siamese twins (who were joined at the shoulders) lived a normal life, were married and had children.
Daily Gleaner, January 26, 1984
Siamese twins' condition 'fairly stable'
The condition of the Siamese twins who returned to Jamaica from Canada recently is considered to be "fairly stable." The twins who were born at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital on December 6 are being taken care of by a team at the Bustamante Hospital for Children.
The girls, born to 25-year-old Janet Clarke and joined from mid-chest to navel, were transferred to the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children on December 19 for specialised investigations. While they were there, a decision was taken to perform surgery but this was
later cancelled because the defects of the single heart which they share, made it impossible to plan a separation. The heart was found to be not a normal one and very defective: There were inborn defects which made it impossible to go ahead with surgery.
. . . .
Sources close to the situation told the Gleaner that the condition of the twins was not deteriorating and that it was considered fairly stable. "They are being fed and cared for and
it looks as if they will be here for some time," the sources said.
At the moment they were not ready for discharge but they had been visited by their parents.
Daily Gleaner, February 23, 1984
Siamese twins die
The Siamese twins born at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital on December 6 have died.
Born to 25-year-old Janet Clarke and joined from mid-chest to navel, they were transferred to the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children on December 19 for specialised investigations.
The girls, who returned to Jamaica from Canada in early January, were being taken care of by a team at the Bustamante Hospital for Children.
While they were m Canada, a decision was taken to perform surgery, but this was later cancelled because the defects of the single heart which they shared, made it impossible to plan a separation The heart was found to be not a normal one and very defective
Sources close to the situation told the Gleaner that the twins died last Wednesday and that their bodies would be sent on to the Pathology Department of the University of the West Indies
Siamese girls born at Jubilee; organs joined
A pair of Siamese twins, two of triplets, was delivered to a 25-year-old mother at Victoria Jubilee Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
This is the third such delivery at the hospital [ right! ] and it has created much excitement among the members of staff. But for the mother there was much concern.
A decision has not yet been taken by the paediatric surgeons to operate but the possibility is that it this cannot be done here, efforts will have to be made to do it abroad and funds will be required for such an undertaking.
The twins, who are girls, have a combined weight ot 11 Ibs 14 1/2 ozs and are "doing very nicely". They were brought into the world by caesarian section, the first for the mother.The other baby, a boy, weighs 8 Ibs 5 ozs.
The girls are joined from mid-chest to the navel and share common organs. Doctors said
yesterday further investigations would have to be done to ascertain which organs are joined. It is understood that the problem with the surgery is that they will have to be separated.
The situation surrounding this union is that the separation process is incomplete.
Under normal circumstances, the fertilised egg would be divided into two and would result in identical twins but this was not completed so there was a union of certain parts of the body.
There have been cases in the world where the twins remain joined for up to a year.
The mother who already has two boys, eight years and 1 year and 11 months, said she would be very glad if the doctors could go ahead and do the operation and she was considering how to cope with the situation. She said she was only prepared for two babies.
The mother, a ward assistant at one of the Corporate Area hospitals said; "up to now I cannot really think they are my children".
So scared was she about the situation that it was only yesterday morning that she went to look
at the babies. She said she was encouraged by the doctor and the members of staff to go ahead and look at them. She was so nervous, on hearing the news that she started to cry.
It has been a trying time for the mother who had been in hospital some three weeks before delivery. She was advised by her doctor to enter hospital because of the possibility that she
might have developed premature labour as a result of the weight she was carrying. She first
knew that she was going to have twins in August and only learnt of the presence of the third baby last week. "When I heard of the third baby I started crying. I was only prepared for two
babies and am considering how I am going to cope".
Hers is an unusual case and we hope that the operation will be undertaken and that things will work out well for the family.
Daily Gleaner, December 12, 1983
Government will assist Siamese twins — PM
The faces of the Nursing Sisters, nurses, patients and the mother of the Siamese twins born on Thursday, at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital lit up like Christmas trees when they learned that Pnme Minister Edward Seaga has taken interest in the case and wished to know what the Government could do to assist.
Said Sister Carmen Steward, "we at the hospital have been wondering what is going to happen to these twins They are healthy babies."
The mother, Miss Janet Clarke, had hoped,to have only one more child to bring the number of her children to three. Instead, she had triplets, including the twins. The other child was a bouncing 8 Ibs boy
Now Miss Clarke has five children, instead of three - which is quite a difference. The nurses and doctors at the hospital are doing everything possible to save the lives of the Siamese twins.
Dr Heather Whyte, pediatrician at the hospital said that doctors are still investigating the possibility of surgery. "The probability is that we will have to send them abroad for surgery," she said.
Dr. Whyte explained that tjlje expenses of the surgical operation abroad and the air-fares are well beyond the reach of the twins' parents.
On Saturday afternoon, Prime Minister Edward Seaga consulted with Dr. Kenneth Bauth, Minister of Health, on what action needs to be taken to give the twins the best chance of survival
Mr. Seaga said that if surgery is to be undertaken the Government will have to meet the expense. "It cannot be expected that the poor parents could find the financial resource necessary for this operation, nor can it be expected that they should watch the twins die for the sake of medical help," Mr. Seaga said. "All that is necessary is to determine whether
surgery can help them to survive and if so no effort will be spared to save their lives."
"Miss Clarke can rest assured that our hearts are with her at this time and we will do whatever is necessary to save.the two children," the Prime Minister added.
Daily Gleaner, December 13, 1983
Further tests for Siamese twins
The Siamese twins delivered to 25-year-old Janet Clarke at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital last Tuesday afternoon will be transferred to the Bustamante Hospital for Children today for further investigations.
Victoria Jubilee does not have the equipment to do the necessary investigations. Surgery will be attempted, depending on the results of the investigations. Doctors at Jubilee say that investigations for children are best carried out at the Bustamante Hospital. The care of the
twins is being transferred to a team at Children's.
The Gleaner understands that the twins will probably be kept in the hospijal until the time for surgery and that surgery may not be done until they are six months. The doctors still do not know which organs are joined. The girls are joined from mid-chest to the navel and share common organs.
There is a possibility that if the surgery cannot be done here, efforts will have to be made to have it done abroad. Prime Minister Edward Seaga, who has shown interest in the case, in a statement in the Gleaner yesterday,said 'that if surgery was to be undertaken the Government would meet the expense. "Miss Clarke can rest assured that our hearts are with her at this time and we will do whatever is necessary to save the two children," he said.
When told about the offer of help by the Government, Miss Clarke's reaction was, "1 would not mind the help". She is aware of the steps being taken by the doctors to assist the children but is still disappointed about the matter and says, "I do not know how to manage them". As the twins leave today to be taken care of at the Bustamante Hospital for Children, Miss Clarke leaves for home to take care of the other baby which was delivered with the twins. A boy, he is said to be doing fine.
Daily Gleaner, December 22, 1983
Siamese twins off to Canada
The Siamese twins born to 25-year-old Janet Clarke at the Victoria Jubilee have been transferred to the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children for specialised investigations.
The girls who were transferred to the Bustamante Hospital for Children last week, left the
island on Monday accompanied by Dr. Bill Dennis, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, and Dr.
Cherry Bridge-Leak, Consultant Anaesthetist.
Investigations carried out at the Children's Hospital suggested that the babies had one heart and one liver. A decision was then taken to transfer them to Canada for specialised
investigations to determine whether the organs could be separated.
Studies will be carried out on the heart to sort out the problem there. The girls are under the
supervision of Professor Richard Rowe, Head of the Department of Cardiology.
They were taken to Canada by the national airline, Air Jamaica, with expenses being undertaken by the Government.
Daily Gleaner, December 24, 1983
Jamaican Siamese twins to be operated on in Canada
A decision has been taken to perform surgery on the Siamese twins who were
transferred from the Bustamante Hospital for Children to the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children in Canada on Monday, but as yet no date has been set.
The twins, born to 25-year-old Janet Clarke at the Victoria Jubilee (Maternity) Hospital on December 6, were transferred to Toronto for specialised investigations.
They were accompanied by Dr. Bill Davis, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, and Dr. Cherry Bridge-Leak, Consultant Anaesthetist, both of the Bustamante Hospital for Children. The girls had been transferred to Children's from Victoria Jubilee. Dr. Davis and Dr. Bridge-Leak returned to Jamaica on Thursday.
The investigations carried out included an echocardiogram which showed that the girls have a single heart. However, the more important study was the cardiac catherterization which showed that although there is one heart, each part has its own entry for blood and the organ
was functioning as two hearts. In this respect there is a possibility for separation. The catherterization shows how blood is.flowing through the heart and the different chambers.
The girls, who are joined from mid-chest to navel, also have one liver but two different systems. A team of 20 doctors is working on the case and a decision has been taken to
go ahead with surgery.
Daily Gleaner, December 29, 1983
Surgery on Siamese twins cancelled
Doctors in Canada who have been dealing with the Jamaican-born Siamese twins have decided not to go ahead with surgery because the defects of the single heart which they share have made it impossible to plan a separation The babies will be returned to Jamaica in
due course
This decision was communicated over the Christmas weekend to doctors at the Bustamante
Hospital for Children from where the twins were transferred to the Toronto Hospital tor Sick Children on December 18.
Sources close to the situation told the Gleaner that a decision was taken not to try to perform surgery because it was not practical. The doctors were unable to do surgery because of the problem with the single heart. The heart is not a normal one and is very detective There are inborn defects which make it impossible to plan a separation and, according to the source, this has confirmed the doctors' worst fears.
The considered opinion is that the doctors will not go through with the surgery and the babies will be returned to Jamaica The twins' mother has been informed of this new development but her reaction to this has not been ascertained There is disappointment over the matter, however, in local medical circles
The initial recommendation was for the doctors to go ahead with surgery, but at that time the investigations were not completed. Now, however, the decision has been reversed.
The girls, born to 21 year old Janet Clarke at the Victona Jubilee Hospital on December 6, are joined from mid-chest to navel and also have one liver. They were transferred to Toronto for specialised investigations accompanied by Dr Bill Dennis, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, and Dr Cherry Bridge-Leak, Consultant Anaesthetist, both of Children's Hospital.
Investigations carried out included an echo-cardiogram which showed that the girls have one heart and a cardiac catherterizarion which showed that although there is one heart, each part has its own entry for blood.
Reports have stated that without corrective heart surgery the twins would probably not live beyond the age of 20. Further reports also state that the doctors believe that if surgery is attempted there will only be a 2 per cent chance of the twins making it out of the operating theatre.
The matter of trie twins life expectancy was not discussed with the team at the Bustamante Hospital, but Siamese twins have been known to live tor many years In fact, atMc- pair ot Siamese twins (who were joined at the shoulders) lived a normal life, were married and had children.
Daily Gleaner, January 26, 1984
Siamese twins' condition 'fairly stable'
The condition of the Siamese twins who returned to Jamaica from Canada recently is considered to be "fairly stable." The twins who were born at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital on December 6 are being taken care of by a team at the Bustamante Hospital for Children.
The girls, born to 25-year-old Janet Clarke and joined from mid-chest to navel, were transferred to the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children on December 19 for specialised investigations. While they were there, a decision was taken to perform surgery but this was
later cancelled because the defects of the single heart which they share, made it impossible to plan a separation. The heart was found to be not a normal one and very defective: There were inborn defects which made it impossible to go ahead with surgery.
. . . .
Sources close to the situation told the Gleaner that the condition of the twins was not deteriorating and that it was considered fairly stable. "They are being fed and cared for and
it looks as if they will be here for some time," the sources said.
At the moment they were not ready for discharge but they had been visited by their parents.
Daily Gleaner, February 23, 1984
Siamese twins die
The Siamese twins born at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital on December 6 have died.
Born to 25-year-old Janet Clarke and joined from mid-chest to navel, they were transferred to the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children on December 19 for specialised investigations.
The girls, who returned to Jamaica from Canada in early January, were being taken care of by a team at the Bustamante Hospital for Children.
While they were m Canada, a decision was taken to perform surgery, but this was later cancelled because the defects of the single heart which they shared, made it impossible to plan a separation The heart was found to be not a normal one and very defective
Sources close to the situation told the Gleaner that the twins died last Wednesday and that their bodies would be sent on to the Pathology Department of the University of the West Indies
In 2003 the Gleaner did an interesting story on a young woman in St James who is the survivor of conjoined twins born in 1985 >>> GLEANER
I have so far found no reference to these twins in the Gleaner in 1985, but the 2003 piece indicates that the Star did carry the story, so I need to get back to the libraries! Interestingly, it appears that the Star, in 1985, claimed that there had been six cases of conjoined twins in Jamaica, since 1962; if that is so, there is clearly more research to be done, as I have so far only identified three cases.
I have so far found no reference to these twins in the Gleaner in 1985, but the 2003 piece indicates that the Star did carry the story, so I need to get back to the libraries! Interestingly, it appears that the Star, in 1985, claimed that there had been six cases of conjoined twins in Jamaica, since 1962; if that is so, there is clearly more research to be done, as I have so far only identified three cases.
If anyone has other information on interesting multiple births in Jamaica I would be glad to include them on the site.
Please contact me at our.history(at)jamaica.la
Please contact me at our.history(at)jamaica.la
