Touching moment conjoined twins Marieme and Ndeye are given their own coats at inclusive design facility after their dad struggled to find them clothes - as seven-year-olds who were given days to live defy the odds

• BBC’s Inseparable Sisters will be available beginning Wednesday evening 

This is the touching moment seven-year-old conjoined twins – who were given days to live after birth – clap their hands and squeal with joy as they are given their own coats at an inclusive design facility after their father struggled to find them clothes.

For most parents, finding clothes in their child’s size is something simple – but Ibrahima Ndiaye has opened up about the challenges of providing his daughters with garments that fit.

Conjoined twins Marieme and Ndeye were brought to the UK from Senegal by their father in 2017 when they were seven-months-old to seek help from doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

The twins have separate brains, hearts and lungs but share a liver, bladder, digestive system, and three kidneys. Doctors had predicted they wouldn’t survive more than a few days after their birth.

Marieme and Ndeye have defied odds and recently celebrated their seventh birthday alongside friends at their Cardiff primary school.

Caring for the sister comes with its own unique set of challenges, their father shared, noting how the twins require round-the-clock care and clothing them is difficult.

‘You have to buy two identical tops and take them to the alterations shop to join them together,’ Mr Ndiaye revealed on the BBC’s new Inseparable Sisters documentary.

‘They have two legs, so they can have regular trousers, but their hip is very wide so you have to take that to the alternations shop too.’

The girls recently visited the inclusive design facility at the University of South Wales where they were seen choosing jackets specifically created for them in a heartwarming trailer for the documentary.

Conjoined twins Marieme and Ndeye (pictured) have separate brains, hearts and lungs but share a liver, bladder, digestive system, and three kidneys. Due to their condition, clothing the girls can be difficult, their father has revealed

This is the heartwarming moment staff at the inclusive design facility at the University of South Wales gave their girls a custom raincoat

The girls recently commemorated their seventh birthday with their classmates. The documentary showed how they were showered in confetti during the celebration

Marieme and Ndeye appeared excited when the designer debuted their new coats.

The girls were given two custom jackets – a padded one to ‘keep you warm’ and another to ‘keep you dry in the rain’, the documentary revealed.

The sisters clapped their hands and squealed with delight as they got to choose the new outerwear.

Ibrahima, who smiled at his daughters’ reactions, has also shared that finding clothing for the girls is difficult due to their condition.

Another challenge the girls face is learning to stand and walk. Ibrahima says they are currently managing about 20 minutes per day, with the help of a standing frame.

He shared that his wish for his daughters was that they could ‘normal life’ in which they could ‘play and laugh with kids’, ‘make friends’ and ‘develop as individuals’.

‘They have achieved things that nobody thought they would,’ he said.

The girls recently celebrated their seventh birthday with their classmates. The documentary showed how they were showered in confetti and surrounded by friends who cheered out ‘girl power’ as they all threw their hands in the air.

Marieme and Ndeye appeared excited when the designer debuted their new coats. The girls were given two custom jackets – a padded one (pictured) to ‘keep you warm’ and another to ‘keep you dry in the rain’

Marieme and Ndeye attend a mainstream primary school in Cardiff. They are pictured with their classmates as the group screams out ‘girl power!’

Another challenge the girls face is learning to stand and walk. Ibrahima, pictured alongside his daughters, says they are currently managing about 20 minutes per day, with the help of a standing frame

‘They don’t have to hide from anybody and being in mainstream school shows they’re part of society,’ Ibrahima said.

He added: ‘They are lucky to be part of this community.’

Marieme and Ndeye were born in Senegal in 2016, where doctors believed their best chance of survival was separation.

The family contacted hospitals around the world – including in in Belgium, Germany, Zimbabwe, Norway, Sweden, and America – ‘begging’ for help, before opting to bring the twins to London.

Ibrahima had hoped that doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London would be able to separate the girls and that they would be able to return to their brothers and sisters in Senegal.

Marieme and Ndeye (pictured recently) were born in Senegal in 2016, where doctors believed their best chance of survival was separation. The family contacted hospitals around the world – including in in Belgium, Germany, Zimbabwe, Norway, Sweden, and America – ‘begging’ for help, before opting to bring the twins to London

Ibrahima (pictured with his daughters a few years ago) had hoped that doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London would be able to separate the girls, but tests determined that Marieme’s heart was too weak for the surgery and doctors predicted she would not survive the operation. It was ultimately decided not to separate the girls

But tests determined that Marieme’s heart was too weak for the surgery and doctors predicted she would not survive the operation.

Officials at the hospital helped Ibrahima deliberate on the options and it was ultimately decided not to separate the girls.

Ibrahima and his daughters have been given discretionary leave to remain in the UK so that they could continue to receive medical treatment in Britain. They now live in Cardiff.

The twins’ mother returned to Senegal and cares for their siblings.

Inseparable Sisters will be available on BBC One and BBC iPlayer beginning Wednesday evening.

Read more