In a heartwarming scene embodying the highest meanings of loyalty and gratitude, the Saudi capital, Riyadh, witnessed on Monday a moving meeting between the advisor to the Royal Court and the general supervisor of the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, and the Polish twins “Olga and Daria”, more than two decades after their successful separation surgery.
The twins' visit to the center's headquarters was to express their gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to the medical team that oversaw their case 21 years ago, when they underwent a delicate and complex surgical operation at King Abdulaziz Medical City of the National Guard in Riyadh, which was a resounding success and completely changed the course of their lives.
The Saudi Twins Program: Global Leadership and Continuous Achievements
During the meeting, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah emphasized that the successive successes achieved by the Saudi Program for Separating Conjoined Twins were not a coincidence, but rather the result of the unlimited support and generous patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman – may God protect them both. Dr. Al-Rabeeah explained that this support has enabled the program to achieve international leadership, having performed 67 successful separation surgeries and provided necessary medical care to 155 twins from 28 countries around the world during its 35-year history.
Historical background: The story of Olga and Daria
The story of the Polish twins dates back to 2005, when the Kingdom received the two girls in critical condition due to their complex conjoined twins. At that time, the Kingdom mobilized all its medical and logistical resources to receive the twins and their family, and Dr. Al-Rabeeah led a specialized medical team to perform the surgery. The operation presented a significant medical challenge, but Saudi expertise proved its ability to handle the most difficult cases. Today, Olga and Daria are young women living their lives with complete independence, reflecting the high quality of medical care and the sustainability of the program's health outcomes.
A humanitarian message that transcends borders
The Saudi Program for Conjoined Twins plays a role that extends beyond the medical field, encompassing profound humanitarian dimensions that transcend geographical boundaries and ethnic differences. Dr. Al-Rabeeah noted that the program has become a global destination and a beacon of hope for all those seeking treatment, both within the Kingdom and abroad. This pioneering role has solidified the Kingdom's position as a capital of humanity, consistently ranking at the forefront of international classifications in relief and humanitarian work, thus marking a significant milestone in the history of modern medicine and humanitarian diplomacy.
Gratitude and appreciation
For their part, Olga and Daria expressed their immense joy at returning to Riyadh, the land where they were reborn, emphasizing that what the Kingdom provided them was not merely treatment, but a gift of a new life filled with hope. They noted that the independence they enjoy today is a result of the efforts of the Saudi medical team, and offered their deepest gratitude to the Saudi leadership and the hospitable Saudi people.
