LONDON, Dec 7, 2000 (LSN.ca) – A publication ban was partially lifted by the High Court yesterday to allow the parents of separated Siamese twins Jodie and Mary to finally tell their story in a televised interview tonight. The Scotsman paper reports that Michaelangelo and Rina Attard, devout Roman Catholics from the Maltese island of Gozo, who were married two years ago, say that Jodie is becoming stronger as each day passes.
Speaking of her daughter Mary’s death after the separation operation, Mr. Attard said: “They told us that unfortunately Mary died. Even though we were prepared, it was a shock we didn’t accept that it was going to happen. Sometimes you just can’t believe that she is dead but you have to accept that she is.” His wife said: “I wanted to see her [Mary] straight away. I lifted and cuddled her. She was dead but I was happy that I was holding her.”
Of Jodie, the mother said: “When we saw her for those two days after the operation she didn’t smile and we were afraid something might have happened. But when they stopped the morphine she was back to normal again so we were very happy. She started holding our hands. She might realize that something is missing from her. She might notice that something has been separated from her so she’s holding our hands much, much stronger. We are very happy because she likes to try to talk with us. She makes sounds like she is talking with us and she smiles at people and us. It makes us very encouraged for the future. She’s going to be a real fighter.”
See the Scotsman at: https://thescotsman.co.uk/index.cfm?id=30129