Bexleyheath conjoined twins, with slim chance of survival, defy odds to start school together

Four-year-olds Rosie and Ruby Formosa, were joined at the abdomen and shared part of an intestine at birth.

They needed an emergency operation to separate them in 2012.

Their parents, Angela and Daniel Formosa, were told the success of the five hour separation operation at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital (Gosh) was low.

The Formosa family are supporting the hospital's charity through it's Back To School Campaign (c.) PA

But the four-year-olds are said to be "very excited" to be starting school like their big sister Lily who is nine.

"Four years ago it wasn't in my mind that this would ever happen," she said, "When I was pregnant I didn't think I'd ever see their first day at school so it is really amazing and all thanks to Gosh really."

The 35-year-old said it was "heartbreaking" when she discovered the girls had the rare medical condition - it accounts for one in every 200,000 live births.

The operation in 2012 took five hours at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital (c.) PA

"I was really, really, really scared and really upset because at that point I was told that there was a high possibility that the girls wouldn't survive the pregnancy," Mrs Formosa said, "And if they did survive the pregnancy they might not survive the birth, then they might not survive surgery.

"They couldn't tell what was connecting them.

"I didn't prepare to bring them home.

"It wasn't until they were in hospital and they'd had their operation that my husband started painting the bedroom and getting everything ready for them."

The girls were born at University College Hospital in London by caesarean section when Mrs Formosa was 34 weeks pregnant.

Within a couple of hours they were taken to Gosh for emergency surgery because of an intestinal blockage.

Praising the staff at the world-renowned children's hospital, Mrs Formosa said: "They had a look and did scans and all sorts of tests and it wasn't until they got into surgery that they saw what was going on.

"It was on-the-spot decisions as to what was to be done.

"The time has just flown by, I can't believe how fast it has gone,

"The twins are looking forward to painting, anything messy, they love reading.

"They are very similar, they are very bubbly little girls, they are very headstrong and very determined, which I knew they were from when they were in my belly because of the way they kept growing and surviving.

"I knew they were going to be determined and they are.

"They rule the roost."

Gosh is the leading centre in Europe for the care of conjoined twins, performing the first successful separation surgery in 1985.

It has since cared for 27 sets of conjoined twins.

The identical twins have beaten all the odds and lead healthy independent lives (c.) PA

The Formosa family are supporting the hospital's charity through it's Back To School Campaign - celebrating all of the children who are able to go to school thanks to care at the hospital, as well as raising funds.

Professor Paolo De Coppi, consultant paediatric surgeon at Gosh, said: "The surgery is highly complex and requires teams from across the hospital to work together and combine a whole range of expertise.

"We're thrilled that Rosie and Ruby are starting school this September.

"It's always a joy to witness patients' progress and to hear that they are reaching new milestones - this makes the job we do all the more rewarding."

The campaign encourages people to share their children's back-to-school moments on their social media pages to help raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity.

Text SCHOOL to 70020 to give £3.