Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – May 17, 2025 — Filipino conjoined twins Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa have arrived in Riyadh to undergo comprehensive medical evaluation in preparation for a potential separation surgery, according to the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief).
Image from Arabtimes
The twins, who were born joined at the abdomen, were flown to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia upon the directive of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. They were immediately transferred to the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital, where a multidisciplinary medical team will assess their condition.
Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, a renowned pediatric surgeon and head of KSrelief, is leading the medical and surgical team. Dr. Al Rabeeah has previously overseen numerous successful separations of conjoined twins from various countries as part of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program.
This marks the third time Filipino conjoined twins have benefited from the Kingdom’s humanitarian medical initiative. In 2004, twins Ann and Mae Manz were successfully separated, followed by Akhizah and Ayeesha Yusoph in 2024.
The twins’ mother, Maricel Misa, expressed her deep gratitude for the opportunity. She revealed that her journey began after commenting on a social media post about a past Saudi-led surgery. Her comment was noticed by the Saudi Embassy in Manila, which then facilitated the process.
“This is more than just a medical mission. It’s a chance at a new life for our daughters,” said Misa, tearfully thankful for the warm reception and swift action from the Kingdom.
Since its establishment in 1990, the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program has evaluated over 130 cases and performed more than 59 successful separation surgeries involving 140 children from 27 countries. The initiative reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to global humanitarian efforts and the provision of specialized medical care to those in need.
As the evaluation continues, the medical team will determine the viability and safety of proceeding with the separation operation in the coming weeks.
Source: Arabnews
