Guardians Moira Kelly and Atom Rahman with Krishna (in white) and Trishna. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun
THREE years after conjoined twins Krishna and Trishna were amazingly separated it's time for school, swimming lessons and other small miracles.
FOR two long and difficult years, conjoined twins Trishna and Krishna's fragile fates were fused together as intricately as the skull and brain tissue that joined them.
Three years after the marathon 32-hour operation to separate them, the only thing these sisters now have to share is love.
The Bangladeshi-born twins' brave fight for survival captured the nation's hearts in 2009.
On the brink of death, when saved by Children First Foundation, the little pair defied all odds to survive extraordinarily complex surgery and take baby steps towards new lives as individuals.
Trishna, always the larger and healthier of the pair, is looking forward to her first day at school next year.
Gallery: Krishna and Trishna thriving since being separated
Like any five year-old, she's cheeky, loves to dance and play chasey with her friends.
For Krishna, the road to recovery has been much harder. But she, too, has defied the odds and, with extensive physiotherapy, has been able to walk supported by water in a pool this year.
She has also begun learning to count. And, in addition to the names of her loved ones she has now begun saying the names of her childhood heroes The Wiggles.
Though full of love for Krishna and admiration for the efforts she must make to do the very things that come so naturally to her, Trishna has no memory of the fact they were ever joined or recollection of the surgery needed to save their lives.
"She's walking," Trishna said, bursting with pride over her sister's recent efforts to walk for the first time, assisted by water.
"She's lovely."
Krishna and Trishna are forging ahead leading new lives as individuals. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun
For the twins' guardian, Moira Kelly, and co-guardian Atom Rahman, it is difficult to reconcile that these are the same girls they collected from a Bangladeshi orphanage five years ago, joined at the head and only weeks or months away from death.
"I still can't believe they are the same children," Ms Kelly said. "I can never get that image out of my head, or the fear ... "
As Trishna bosses and charms everyone around her, there certainly doesn't appear to be any lingering side effects of her years joined to her sister, or the two years of operations it took Royal Children's Hospital specialists to separate them.
Extremely social and interactive, Trishna reads in bed each night and, although she will soon turn six and start school a year older than her classmates, has caught up to their abilities.
She also wants to start learning ballet and enthuses that her favourite activity is playing chasey.
Apart from a serious case of scarlet fever a fortnight ago, Trishna has had no medical problems since her life-changing operation.
Ms Kelly said after the girls' ordeal, a "normal" childhood health scare such as scarlet fever was almost a quiet joy.
It has been much harder for Krishna, who Ms Kelly feels is still haunted by her experiences.
The sight of somebody putting on rubber gloves to clean the house sends her into a panic as it no doubt reminds her of the many medical procedures she endured.
Krishna (left) and Trishna with their neurosurgeons Wirginia Maixner and Alison Wray. Picture: Royal Children's Hospital/Robert Reitmaier Source: Herald Sun
But in the past two months, the smaller twin has taken giant strides, astounding Ms Kelly by walking unaided while in the middle of a regular pool therapy session. And she has continued the poolwalking since.
"It's like something has happened the last two months, as though she has joined the world," Ms Kelly said. "Maybe it's that in herself she feels safe. It's just like a connection has been made and it has all come together."
For Mr Rahman, the most beautiful change has been Krishna's temperament.
"She is a lot calmer, a lot more engaged," he said. "It's like she finds herself here at the pool, she can find her freedom."
As well as taking steps, Krishna has recently learnt to count to 10 and started coming out of her shell at music classes.
Krishna's sudden progress has seen her carers begin taking her to kinder for supported orientation sessions and she will begin classes next year.
Krishna's program will see her swimming three times a week, attending physiotherapy twice a week, speech therapy once a fortnight, music therapy each week, Gymbaroo twice a week, occupational therapy and speech therapy once a fortnight.
Just as the pool was the scene for the girls' most recent triumph, it was also the setting for an all-too real reminder of just how fragile they can be.
Krishna and Trishna (in white dress) mett the Queen last year. Picture: Craig Borrow Source: Herald Sun
While seated in a high chair after swimming, a huge seizure 10 days ago saw Krishna go limp and an ambulance called to rush her back to the RCH.
Six hours later Krishna was cleared of damage and allowed to leave.
"Unlike other kids, who have seizures and it is a bit frightening, with Krishy I just think, 'Oh my God is this going to do some damage', because you just know her brain isn't normal and her circulation isn't normal," Ms Kelly said.
The smaller twin also has to visit the hospital several times a year to see specialists about her poorly functioning kidneys and have her brain monitored.
The past three years have allowed the girls' mother, Lovely Goldar, to build up contact after only learning of their survival after they had been separated.
Ms Goldar calls from her home in rural Bangladesh every fortnight and visits once or twice a year.
Her own future looks brighter after getting a sought after government job working in agriculture.
Trishna is learning to speak Bangladeshi so she can speak to her mother rather than have Mr Rahman translate for her.
Mr Rahman also makes sure Trishna attends activities in the Bangladeshi community several times a month, dressing in traditional clothing, while Krishna attends cultural celebrations.
"We don't ever want her to feel she isn't a part of the culture she was born in," he said.
"But this (Australia) is the place where they have their future."
AN AMAZING JOURNEY
December 22, 2006: Trishna and Krishna born in Bangladesh. The twins started life in Dhaka orphanage after their parents decided they could not care for them.
November 2007: Brought to Australia by humanitarian Moira Kelly in November 2007 to see if doctors believe they can be safely separated.
December 22, 2007: The twins celebrate their first birthday at the Royal Children's Hospital.
November 16, 2009: The major operation to separate the twins starts at 10am in the Royal Children's Hospital. The head of surgery at the hospital, Leo Donnan, said the chances of the twins pulling through successfully were only 25 per cent.
November 18, 2009: After more than 27 hours, doctors announce the operation was a success.
July 2010: Their biological mother, Lovely Goldar, visits Australia to meet her daughters.
November 2010: A year on from their separation, Trishna is walking, talking, singing and dancing, while Krishna continues to make huge strides in her development having overcome life threatening health issues.
October 2011: The twins' biological mother meets her four year old girls for the second time. Moira Kelly reveals that Krishna has special needs and may never walk.
October 5, 2012: Krishna walks for the first time
