Family Of Separated Twins To Help Another Twin

This family from South Korea whose conjoined daughters have been separated through surgery, now want to help another conjoined twin in Russia to achieve the same happy outcome.

The Russian twins, Veronica and Christina, were born last year with the lower parts of their torsos joined. They live with their mother in a small town, Chernogorsk, in the Siberian republic of Khakasia. Doctors have concluded that the twins are joined only by skin and muscle and do not share spines or internal organs. That makes surgical separation a relatively easy possibility.

Mr. Min, the father of the separated Korean Twins, plans to travel to Russia with his wife, Jang Yun-kyung, and their daughters in April to deliver money to help the children's 18-year-old single mother pay for the surgery, which will probably be done in Moscow. He said he has contributed 4 million won ($4,120), and hopes to collect 20 million won in total through a Web site, Pure Sarang Jihye, which he set up in December to publicize the Russian twins' plight. He said that amount would pay for the surgery and a year of care for the children after they are separated, but he admits donations have been slow so far.

One problem is Mr. Min has not been able to establish contact with the Russian mother to render his help. Hopefully he can get it done soon. It is admirable for a person to go out of his way to help a needy family, giving hopes for a promising future to two young children.