YOUNGSTERS IN Cork have sent letters of support to the parents of conjoined twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf in advance of their separation surgery on Wednesday.
Children taking part in a fundraiser at Chuckies indoor play zone in Togher, Cork, penned the messages last Thursday.
The fundraiser was arranged by Cork dance school owner Marisa Fragolioni and the venue was provided free of charge.
Ms Fragolioni saw the interview with Benhaffafs on the Late Late Showin January and was very moved by it. "I was very upset by it and thought of ways of how I could raise funds for their sons' separation surgery in Great Ormond Street, London."
Hassan and Hussein travelled to London from their home in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, in preparation for their separation surgery.
The four-month-old twins are in London with their parents, Angie and Azzedine, and the couple’s other two children, Malika (4) and Iman (2), as arrangements are finalised for their surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Ms Benhaffaf and her Algerian-born husband face in to an agonising wait as their sons are expected to spend 20 hours in theatre.
Ms Benhaffaf has appealed to the public to keep the twins in their thoughts.
“We would ask everyone to keep them in their thoughts . . . It will be our ‘little fighters’ final battle. The whole country has given us support and that has totally overwhelmed us.”
Hassan and Hussein were born six weeks prematurely on December 2nd at University College Hospital London. They are joined at the chest and do not share any vital organs.