Impoverished Conjoined Twins Pray Fervently For Financial Help or…a Mercy Killing
- Posted on August 1, 2011 at 11:14pm by
Billy Hallowell
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The pain and suffering has become so unbearable for Saba and Farah Shakeel that their father, Mohammed Shakeel, is petitioning the government for a “mercy killing” (also known as euthanasia or doctor assisted suicide).
Sadly, the 15-year-old girls are conjoined; they have been connected at the skull since birth. As a result of this tragic disability, they allegedly have headaches, joint pain and slurred speech. Judging from video footage, the young women are also unable to walk and travel with ease. But, the situation wasn’t always this terrible.
Five years ago, the girls caught the world‘s attention after they turned down Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi’s offer to pay for the surgical procedures needed to separate them. The Telegraph has more:
They were examined at Apollo Hospital in New Delhi, where a team under Benjamin Carson, an American conjoined twins specialist, found they shared a vital blood vessel in the brain, and that Farah had two kidneys while Saba had none. The separation would have required five or six operations over nine months, but each stage held a one in five chance that either of the girls might die.
Being unable to fathom one or both of the young girls dying, the family decided to decline treatment. Since turning down the surgery, the family has purportedly not been able to afford the medical expenses that would be incurred by seeking basic medical assistance (Shakeel only makes $105 per month).
As a result, no doctor has been able to diagnose or pinpoint the root cause of the girls’ pain. Five years ago, aside from their obvious barrier, Saba and Farah seemed happy and healthy. CBS News reports:
“The girls want to live and enjoy life as others do but when they are in pain, they cry and ask for help,” Shakeel said. “All we want is either the government should come and help us treat them or allow them to die, because they are in a miserable condition.”
Below, watch video of the young girls as they offer prayers at a shrine in hopes that they will receive some relief:
Interestingly, the girls’ father is a Muslim. While mercy killing in Islam is accepted in some limited situations, it does not appear as though the girls’ qualify. DNAIndia.com writes:
According to religious experts, Islam allows ‘passive’ mercy killing. If a person is dying and is being kept alive on machines like a ventilator, then it is allowed to offer the person the option of mercy killing.
If a person is suffering from cancer or a terminal illness or pain, he cannot be offered a means to kill himself. “This would be active killing, and is haram and forbidden in Islam,” said [Dr Shoaib] Sayyed, [a doctor who in his capacity as the manager for Islam and Comparative religions at the Islamic Research Foundation.]
Perhaps the government will intervene again to provide the young women with medical care — or grant their euthanasia wishes. Regardless of their father’s religious affiliation, he is petitioning to ease his daughters’ pain by any means necessary.
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Comments (81)
curmudgeon60
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 7:49amI pray they call on Dr. BEN CARSON again! He’s a strong Christian and an AWESOME surgical physician! If any human being could do it he could!! God guides his hands and he prays for guidance. As to the posting of these stories. I welcome them-they put life into perspective-and give us a chance to think of others. In fact, I LOVE THE BLAZE! It’s a place to learn! It challenges you to dig deeper! It’s better than the set of encyclopedias my family could never afford! Thank you Mr. Hallowell for reporting on matters of FAITH!
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 11:12amunfortunately when brain functions are co-mingled surgery will result in the death of one or both. an attempt at surgery might give them the death they want.
Report Post »mycomet123
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 5:03pmCURMUDGEON60, Couldn’t agree with you more about Dr. Ben Carson. He is the first neurosurgeon to successfully separate twins that were conjoined at the head. I would encourage anyone to read his life story, it is truly inspiring. I pray that God would provide comfort to the twins & their family a guide them to His will for their lives.
Report Post »Ming The Merciless
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 5:50pmGood Seventh-Day Adventist reference with Dr. Ben Carson!
Report Post »mils
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 11:05pmso please ask Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi’s people for help….
Report Post »I support God's Israel!
Posted on August 3, 2011 at 4:38pmBetter yet, rent the movie, “GIFTED HANDS”, Dr. Ben Carson’s life story. It is absolutely phenomenal!
Report Post »It was so good, I bought it!
sodacrackers2
Posted on August 3, 2011 at 8:11pmDr. Ben Carson spoke to Catholic school teachers in Cleveland a few years ago. He is an awesome speaker and a wonderful Doctor. I wish the girls’ father had allowed the surgeries. If you are a teacher, especially of inner city children, you need to hear Ben Carson speak.
Report Post »AntiLiberal74
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 7:47amPerhaps they should put their heads together and come up with a….oh right…sorry
Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 11:29amI’m not sure what is sadder, this story or your pathetic attempt at humor. What the hec is wrong with you? Ignorant piece of garbage…
Report Post »Purg
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 11:46amI bet the twins would laugh…thought it was kinda funny myself
Report Post »patjoe
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 6:13pmHe is obviously a liberal using the tag as antiliberal, because I can’t fathom any true conservative making such a sick statement.
Report Post »I support God's Israel!
Posted on August 3, 2011 at 4:40pmYou are a WANNABE CONSERVATIVE posing as such. You are a LIBERAL, so stop lying to all of us and move on out of here. Good-hearted and soulful people would not even THINK to say such a cruel thing. It wasn’t funny and if you think it really was, then I suggest you examine your heart and soul and see which one is missing.
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 7:18amIt is indeed a tragedy but I couldn’t help noticing where the reporter informed us that “they have been connected at the skull since birth”. It‘s good to know that this isn’t something that can happen at just any time of life.
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 7:35amIf it did “Tingles Matthews would be- where?
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 7:45am@Mateytwo Barreett
Yyyyyyep. LOL!
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 7:14amBring them here to see if we can fix them.
Report Post »Carol Ingian
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 6:23amHow sad. Their father should ask the government for the surgery. Don’t just kill them, give them a chance.
Report Post »VoteJoel
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 4:17amGod Bless them. I hope it works out.
Report Post »JudgeMentalOne
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 3:46amIt’s crazy that those fortunes in the Middle East seem to be able to fund madrassas but never anything for humanitarian reasons.
Report Post »VTDave
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 8:14amDid you not read the article? The family was offered to have the surgery paid for by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and they turned it down 5 years ago. I guess the girls were not in so much discomfort at that point. It is sad but they should have taken the offer back then as it is unlikely that a good outcome will be as likely now.
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 2:00amDo the surgery ! Why just kill them when there is a chance 1 may live – and maybe both no matter what the chance? If they want to pray for a miracle they should pray thanks that America has the will and the means to, and the Doctors who would apply everything to the best possible plan for success. There is a miracle in there somewhere already.
Report Post »Netsurfer2
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 1:50amWhat ever happened to these rich fat Saudis paying for their operation??? Was inbreeding involved???
Report Post »HisNameWasRobertPaulson
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 2:06amRead the article again. You missed something. They offered to pay for it. They were turned down by the family. Read closer this time.
Report Post »Big Book Harry
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 2:19amWhy wouldn’t the offer be still on the table since the situation has changed.
Report Post »hottips2011
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 5:56amWhen ISN’T inbreeding involved?
Report Post »sodacrackers2
Posted on August 3, 2011 at 8:17pmBirth defects can and do happen to anyone. Your “inbreeding” remark is crass and hurtful.
Report Post »ThoreauHD
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 1:13amMercy killing. Another gift from the religion of p|ss.
Report Post »chimera
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 10:07pmThey cant get a mercy killing because they are suffering… all the girls have to do is stand next to a male that is not a direct relative then they can have an honor killing instead of a mercy killing….
Report Post »Papalima28
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:45amWhere there’s no obedience, there’s no virtue; where there’s no virtue, there’s no good; where there’s no good, there’s no love; where there’s no love, there’s no God; and where there’s no God, there’s no paradise.
St. Padre Pio
Report Post »FstEti
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 3:08amAnd when you comment you offer no answer to the problem.
Report Post »TruthDarts
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 4:01am@FSTETI
Yes, they did.
I believe they are saying:
Without GOD there is NO answer to prayers.
I too believe waving incense or spinning wooden wheels to air or trees, or whatever object…
delivers nothing.
As far as the pain…they could be missing
something as simple as Vitamin D-3 in their diets.
Better that the article reaches those who pray to GOD,
Report Post »or HE will touch the heart of a willing doctor,
with some brains, time & love for fellow human beings
to help them.
I support God's Israel!
Posted on August 3, 2011 at 4:42pmFstEti:
Report Post »I think he answered EVERY problem with a reason why most bad things happen!
ziggrl
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:26amNot a very good article. Seems that the Blaze is exploiting these two twins. Maybe because they are Muslims? Where is the meat and potatoes of the story? I need to feel something for these two and I didn’t take away anything really. It’s sad that journalism has become so bad.
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:46amHow horribly sad. I cannot believe they have been 15yrs like that. Maybe they will take the offer
Report Post »and God will do what is best. They have my prayers. We really do not know or forget just how
grateful we should be until we see something like this. Thank you God for Blessing me.
alycoh
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:54am@Ziggrl You could pray for the girls. Don’t you have any compassion? The Blaze is the place to read about all types of news. If you don’t like it, don’t read it. It’s that simple.
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 1:04amStill waiting for you to post the punchline…… Your post was a joke.. Right? Or just the meat of your post would do – if there were any.
Report Post »Big Book Harry
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 2:24am@ZIGGRL I need to feel something for these two and I didn’t take away anything really.
Report Post »Get off the narcotics, I remember reading somewhere that in the end days the love of many will grow cold.
Misty Williams
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 7:48am@Ziggirl–
Really? A critique on the article? If you don’t feel something for these girls, I don’t think the problem is with the article.
I would guess the reason these girls are reported on here is to get the word out to people with compassion who also value life. Perhaps someone who reads it will be in a position with the professional skills and the funding to help them. The article is pretty sterile, but then the situation is so sad that no words really could suffice to emphasize how awful it is. A father willing to end his children’s lives, to spare them agony? How unspeakably sad. That alone is beyond mere words to sufficiently express. And how is it any different than hundreds of news stories every day suicides, murders, deaths from illness are all reported with such cold dispassion that the people involved might as well be cord wood. If you can’t “take away anything really” without a tremendous emotional appeal and all kinds of miserable details, perhaps the fault is not in the reporting. I do not at all suggest that you are an unfeeling person, but just maybe you have been desensitized to the pain and suffering of others. Maybe because of that cold, dispassion of news reporting in general.
If you need to have a problem with something, have a problem with comments about inbreeding. These children are innocents, whatever religion their parents follow and teach them. Inbreeding? That’s a shameful way to address this terrible thing. I pray they can find a hap
Report Post »Master Sergeant Malone
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 6:04pmI‘m betting your a freekin’ liberal moon bat with a houseful of cats. You idiot!!!!
Report Post »I support God's Israel!
Posted on August 3, 2011 at 4:45pmThen go elsewhere as I thought it was a great story – one that I found people I COULD PRAY FOR and I will pray for these people that God move upon them to accept the Doctor’s medical care. You have to LOOK PAST YOUR OWN THOUGHTS when you read things on The Blaze and look for something POSITIVE YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. Clearly, you didn’t think to pray for these people? How sad for you. How about our country? Do you pray for it every day? How sad that you don’t. Do you pray for Glenn everyday? How sad for you, if you don’t. SEE WHAT YOU ARE MISSING?
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:24amThere’s some loons in here with stupid comments .
Report Post »I think the girls & the family should take the offer again from the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi .
it’s a very hard surgery & one of them could die for the other one to survive .
I will pray for their safe successful separation .
xoke
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:36amI agree, lots of loons in here posting some dumb stuff. You all should be ashamed of yourselves…these are children…have some Gd’m compassion. It’s sad. Poor girls, I hope something good happens for them.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:38amEven if the odds of one of the twins passing is one in five; the fact remains there is a FOUR in FIVE chance of the both LIVING. I pray they also take up the offer of the prince, and take the chance for the both of them to have a story of Gods mercy and grace to make a miracle happen.
Report Post »mharry860
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 1:03amYeah, this place is getting as bad as Fox News comments. Trolls have nothing better to do than to try and tarnish what is good. They have to bring everything down to their level. Sitting in your moms basement in your underwear, wishing the government would give you some more money, leaves a lot of free time. God help these girls, I pray for them.
Report Post »hillbillyinny
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 2:45amThe medical field changes hourly or faster now adays! Hopefully they can be reevaluated, surgically separated and go forward to live their lives as God would have them live. I will pray for wisdom, skill, kindness for the doctors and for them to do His Will for these “little ones”! Surely someone will come forward to pay for the surgery or it will be donanted by a philanthropic source.
Report Post »Msgt Ret
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 9:35amYou a_ _ume the offer by the Crown Prince is still on the table!
Report Post »mossbrain
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:19amAre they praying to Janus the two headed God? Cojoined twins, sort of like two knights on one horse, symbolically.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:35am@ MOSSBRAIN
Report Post »You’re a sick person you & some other lib loons in here .
Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:00pm@ Robert: I have always referred to mossbrain as PEABRAIN. The person behind the name is a pathetic ignorant piece of garbage and this post is just another example of that. Thanks for standing up for these 2 girls. Some of these post are just pathetic.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 11:40pmFLY OLD GLORY 24/7 365
Report Post »Posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:00pm
@ Robert: I have always referred to mossbrain as PEABRAIN. The person behind the name is a pathetic ignorant piece of garbage and this post is just another example of that. Thanks for standing up for these 2 girls. Some of these post are just pathetic.
_____________________________
I agree with that .
LOLReally
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:09amYour form 9647A (Application for permit to kill your daughters) Has been denied, Please press 1 for more options.
Report Post »Kurty C Wipe
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:49amListen up boys and girls………..Kurty C Wipe is about to speak.
Report Post »This country is BROKE, Saying again, BROKE, you don’t it get yet, you soon will. All other storys on the blaze.com, nothing but a diversion to think this country will come back. All by design. Now go to work,,,our government is counting on it! Wake the Fu-k up!
Chet Hempstead
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:02amWhatever happened to personal responsibility? Teenage girls kill themselves all the time with no help from the government.
mossbrain
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:02amHave they contacted the doublemint gum company?
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:41amThis comment does not deserve a reply. But Mossbrain you make me sick.
Most of your posts are denigrating in some way, but you have no compassion for anything.
Report Post »If it is supposed to be funny it is not. Uncaring it is.
Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 12:04pmPEABRAIN once again attempts to make comment but only sheet flies from his mouth….you are an ignorant piece of garbage Peabrain and I hope The Blaze deletes your account….
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on August 1, 2011 at 11:49pm.
Report Post »That’s Nasty…..
CatherineAnn
Posted on August 1, 2011 at 11:46pmMakes you appreciate what you have. I can’t imagine living like that.
Report Post »Big Book Harry
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 2:34amEach day I have the privelege of waking up to an opportunity to try and get it right. (progress not perfection)
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on August 1, 2011 at 11:44pmI’ve seen other twins conjoined at the head and they lived their lives as best they could. I wonder why an attempt wasn’t made to separate them when they babies or toddlers. I would think that a humanitarian organization would have paid for everything, if they have known about the poverty of the family.
Report Post »noline
Posted on August 1, 2011 at 11:44pmMy heart goes out to them. No innocent one should have to suffer.
Report Post »NuffSaid
Posted on August 1, 2011 at 11:41pmTragic Sad. Sounds similar to the prayers of conservative, constitutional American though. Pray for all of us.
Report Post »ellietoo
Posted on August 1, 2011 at 11:41pmIf one of them has no kidneys at all I imagine there are some pretty serious problems going on right now. Not to mention a great pain in the neck. It seems that a with that large a population would be able to help these people.
Report Post »A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
Posted on August 1, 2011 at 11:37pmHurry up with that Adult Stem Cell research.
Report Post »Bearfoot
Posted on August 1, 2011 at 11:30pmThis is a tough one.
Report Post »For the girls, it is a tragedy for sure. For their parents, there is no way out of the misery of watching their children suffer. Such a sorry situation.