Dear Karen,

We have some inspiring news we'd like to share with you. Dr. John Upledger recently flew to Texas to consult with surgeons who were examining Conjoined twins for possible separation. The boys, who are from Egypt, are joined At the crown of their heads. The chief surgeon, Dr. Kenneth Salyer, learned about CranioSacral Therapy from his wife who had taken several UI classes.

Now the twins are coming to Palm Beach Gardens next week for a five-day intensive CranioSacral Therapy program. The progress they've made already with the help of CST is what prompted this trip.

Following is a news release that helps sum things up. If you have any questions or thoughts about this matter, we'd love to hear from you.

PALM BEACH GARDENS TEAM TO TREAT CONJOINED EGYPTIAN TWINS

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA. - Dr. John E. Upledger, developer of CranioSacral Therapy, will be helping 15-month-old conjoined twins prepare for possible separation surgery when he and a team of therapists treat them at The Upledger Institute HealthPlex Clinical Services in Palm Beach Gardens,Fla. The Egyptian-born boys, Ahmed and Mohamed Ibrahim, are conjoined at the crown of the head.

The boys are scheduled to take part in an outpatient program at UI HealthPlex Clinical Services the week of September 16-20. They will receive five days of intensive, hands-on CranioSacral Therapy from a team of highly trained therapists. This light-touch manual therapy is designed to release membranous and structural restrictions around the brain and spinal cord, and encourage the central nervous system to function at peak efficiency.

The twins were born on June 2, 2001, to the wife of a laborer in a remote village in southern Egypt. A year later the babies and their Egyptian doctors flew to Texas to be evaluated by a team of specialists at North Texas Hospital for Children. According to craniofacial surgeon Dr.Kenneth Salyer, while a good portion of each boy's brain is separate, the attachment in their heads is extensive and includes the connection of blood vessels. He has said this would make the operation "very tenuous, very hazardous," although a separation could be successful.

"CranioSacral Therapy has already helped these boys tremendously," says Sally Fryer, PT, CST, a therapist who treated the boys in Dallas along with Dr. Upledger. "When I first evaluated them there were some obvious neurological signs, such as sensitivity to movement, decreased mobility and guarded physical reactions. The larger twin was weaker and more passive. And the smaller boy was trying to get up on his hands and knees and initiate rolling but he couldn't.

"By the end of their first CranioSacral Therapy session the twins were smiling and playing with each other, imitating sounds and overall much more animated. After just three weeks of treatments they were both pushing up into a crawling position, initiating movements independently of each other and laughing. And the little one finally started eating and having daily bowel movements.

"We've even seen some cleavage start to form between their heads. Before it was a flat area with a slight indentation. Now you can see a ring around their skulls almost like they're attempting to separate from each other. Even without surgery we've witnessed miraculous changes."

Costs associated with the boys' trip to Palm Beach Gardens are being underwritten by two nonprofit organizations: The Upledger Foundation and the World Craniofacial Foundation. Committed to developing new therapeutic applications and community-outreach programs, the Upledger Foundation assists with financial aid to patients in need. The World Craniofacial Foundation in Texas is dedicated to helping children from around the world obtain the life-changing craniofacial surgery they deserve. To learn more about these charitable organizations and to donate to this worthy cause, visit http://www.upledger.com/ and http://www.worldcf.org/.

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