On Tuesday 21st April, at a press conference held at San Gerardo Hospital in Monza, Italy, Mouhamad Dieng and the team behind the separation of conjoined twins Dior and Thiaba spoke about their experience of one of the most complex paediatric surgical procedures ever performed.
The press conference was attended by members of the wider international surgical team, including surgeon Dr Chris Gordon and Dr Domenico Scopelliti, maxillofacial surgeon and President of Smile House, alongside other key specialists who contributed to the planning and execution of the operation.
Following months of close collaboration across leading national and international institutions, the twins arrived in Italy in July 2024, where they were received by a highly coordinated network within the Lombardy healthcare system. A multidisciplinary surgical team then carried out a 40-hour operation of extraordinary complexity in June 2025. “We went to the moon and back,” said Carlo Giussani, Head of Neurosurgery at San Gerardo Hospital, reflecting on the scale and difficulty of the procedure.
Tragically, Thiaba did not survive the most delicate phase of the procedure, a loss that profoundly affected everyone involved. Dior, however, survived and has now begun rehabilitation, marking an important step toward a future that had once seemed impossible.
The event underscored the exceptional coordination and dedication of the medical teams, whose combined expertise made it possible to attempt such a high-risk operation. Speaking at the conference, Mr Dieng said: “This story shows us the power of science, when guided by compassion, and the need for solidarity,” highlighting the importance of international cooperation in advancing paediatric care and improving outcomes for rare and life-threatening conditions.
Mouhamad’s involvement was inspired by his late wife, Victoria, and a desire to transform personal loss into meaningful action. He also expressed gratitude to the twins’ parents for their courage, strength, and trust throughout the journey.
Alongside the MRD Foundation, Smile House Fondazione ETS, the World Craniofacial Foundation, and several Italian and international centres, including the Policlinico di Milano and the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital in Bergamo, participated in the twins’ care.