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Separating Twins

Follow the amazing story of Trishna and Krishna, girls born joined at the head, as surgeons prepare to separate them. Aired February 8, 2012 on PBS

Posted 12.22.11
NOVA

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Aired February 8, 2012 on PBS

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Program Description

This is the incredible story of Trishna and Krishna, twin girls born joined at the head. Abandoned shortly after birth at an orphanage in Bangladesh, they had little chance of survival, until they were saved and taken to Australia by an aid worker. After two years battling for life, the twins are ready for a series of delicate operations that will prepare them for the ultimate challenge: a marathon separation surgery that will allow them to live truly separate lives. Since the beginning, surgeons knew there was no guarantee of survival for either of the girls—but without surgery there was no hope at all. With exclusive access to this extraordinary human and medical drama, our cameras have been with Trishna and Krishna and their caregivers at each moment of their journey.

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Broadcast Credits

SEPARATING TWINS

WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY: Wayne Dyer
PRODUCED FOR NOVA BY: Melanie Wallace
CO-PRODUCED FOR NOVA BY: Raoul Rosenberg
DIRECTOR: Ben Shackleford
EDITED BY: Raoul Rosenberg
Dave Redman
NARRATED BY: Lance Lewman
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Campbell Munro
RESEARCHER: Narrelle Vance
FIELD PRODUCER: Damian Estall
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Neil Mitchell
CAMERA: John Hall
Scott James
Mick Purdy
SOUND RECORDISTS: Justin Feenstra
Peter Graham
John Peterson
Chris Rynn
ASSISTANT EDITORS: Bill Kalajdziovski
Mat Jones
Alice Smith
COLORIST: John O’Neil
ORIGINAL MUSIC: Nerida Tyson-Chew
ADDITIONAL MUSIC: Music courtesy of APM Music
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR: Stephen Rees
AUDIO POST PRODUCTION: Tristan Meredith
MEDICAL GRAPHICS: Animated Biomedical Productions
MOTION GRAPHICS: Raoul Rosenberg
PRODUCTION MANAGER: Chris Perkins
UNIT MANAGER: Judy Davenport
FACILITIES: twoONEzero POST
LEGAL: Anna George
Ben Nguyen
FINANCE: Tracey Hastie
Gerard Rowan
PRODUCED WITH THE COOPERATION OF: Children First Foundation
The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne
SPECIAL THANKS TO:: All The Doctors, Nurses & Staff at
Australian High Commission, Bangladesh
AXS Biomedical Animation Studio
Andy Christensen
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Dolan DNA Learning Center
Dr. Katrina Firlik
Dr. James T. Goodrich
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION FOR WTFN: Steve Oemcke
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS FOR WTFN: Daryl Talbot
Ben Ulm
ONLINE EDITOR: Michael H. Amundson
AUDIO MIX: John Jenkins
NOVA SERIES GRAPHICS: yU + co.
NOVA THEME MUSIC: Walter Werzowa
John Luker
Musikvergnuegen, Inc.
ADDITIONAL NOVA THEME MUSIC: Ray Loring
Rob Morsberger
POST PRODUCTION ONLINE EDITOR: Spencer Gentry
CLOSED CAPTIONING: The Caption Center
MARKETING AND PUBLICITY: Karen Laverty
PUBLICITY: Eileen Campion
Victoria Louie
SENIOR RESEARCHER: Kate Becker
NOVA ADMINISTRATOR: Kristen Sommerhalter
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: Linda Callahan
PARALEGAL: Sarah Erlandson
TALENT RELATIONS: Scott Kardel, Esq.
Janice Flood
LEGAL COUNSEL: Susan Rosen
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION: Rachel Connolly
DIGITAL PROJECTS MANAGER: Kristine Allington
DIRECTOR OF NEW MEDIA: Lauren Aguirre
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER POST PRODUCTION: Patrick Carey
POST PRODUCTION EDITOR: Rebecca Nieto
POST PRODUCTION MANAGER: Nathan Gunner
COMPLIANCE MANAGER: Linzy Emery
DEVELOPMENT PRODUCERS: Pamela Rosenstein
David Condon
SENIOR PRODUCER AND PROJECT DIRECTOR: Lisa Mirowitz
COORDINATING PRODUCER: Laurie Cahalane
SENIOR SCIENCE EDITOR: Evan Hadingham
SENIOR SERIES PRODUCER: Melanie Wallace
MANAGING DIRECTOR: Alan Ritsko
SENIOR EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Paula S. Apsell

Presented by electricsky.com

A WTFN Production for NOVA

© 2010 WTFN

Additional Material © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation

Image

(doctors operating): Courtesy Robert Reitmaier, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne

Participants

Andrew Greensmith: Craniofacial Surgeon
Tony Holmes: Director of Craniofacial Surgery
Moira Kelly: Children First Foundation
Bernadette Lui: Physical Therapist
Wirginia Maixner: Director of Neurosurgery
Doug McKay: Craniofacial Surgeon
Ian McKenzie: Director of Anesthesia
Danielle Noble: Australian Youth Ambassador
Atom Rahman: Philanthropist
Alison Wray: Neurosurgeon

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