Aruna Rodrigues, a conjoined twin who underwent a complex separation surgery earlier this year, has tragically passed away on December 24, 2023. The 18-month-old girl had fought valiantly for seven months following the operation that divided her from her twin sister, Kiraz, who died shortly after the procedure.
The separation surgery took place in May 2023 at the State Hospital for Children and Adolescents (Hecad) in Goiania, located in the Brazilian state of Goiás. This intricate operation lasted approximately 19 hours and involved a large multidisciplinary medical team. Hospital officials reported that Aruna had shown signs of improvement before her condition deteriorated.
Details of Aruna’s Medical Journey
Following the separation, Aruna was monitored closely in the hospital. On December 10, she was moved from the intensive care unit to a hospital ward, indicating a positive shift in her recovery. Unfortunately, her health took a turn for the worse shortly thereafter. Aruna developed a severe infection and subsequently faced complications from a viral illness.
According to her father, Alessandro Rodrigues, despite successfully overcoming multiple medical procedures throughout her treatment, Aruna could not recover from this last setback. He expressed grief on social media, stating, “Our baby went through several procedures and several surgeries and she managed to overcome all of them. Unfortunately, she did not overcome this last one.”
Hospital Response and Community Support
Dr. Zacharias Calil, the lead surgeon, announced Aruna’s death on social media, expressing profound sorrow for the family. He remarked, “Today, God decided to relieve Aruna’s suffering and took her to be close to her sister Kiraz, an immense pain for all of us, especially for this family that fought with courage, faith, and love for their Siamese twins.”
Hospital officials confirmed that despite extensive medical efforts, Aruna succumbed to septic shock on December 24 at 15:51 local time. They emphasized their commitment to providing both medical and psychological support to Aruna’s family during this challenging time. The hospital has continued to offer psychological assistance and has requested privacy for the family as they mourn their loss.
Aruna’s brief journey following the surgery captured the attention and sympathy of many, highlighting the resilience of both twins and the dedication of the medical team involved.
