When asked about the separation of Egyptian conjoined twins Ahmed and Mohammed, Dr. Kenneth E. Salyer once described the work as both a learning experience and a spiritual one.

“The task seemed almost impossible,” he reflected. “But without it, their lives would have been very limited.”

For Dr. Salyer, these moments represented more than surgical challenges—they were opportunities to push the boundaries of what was possible.

“Plastic surgery has always been a series of challenges that stimulate new, creative solutions,” he wrote. “The goal is always the same—to provide a better quality of life. Without separation surgery and the reconstruction that followed, Mohammed and Ahmed would have never walked, never stood, never looked at each other face to face; their lives would have been very narrow and probably very short. But the collective work on two continents—without any consideration given to distinctions between cultures and religions—to give them good lives was a metaphor, I feel, for how people inherently want to build human brotherhood and move toward a higher consciousness.”

For those involved, that outcome was not left to chance.

The case required extraordinary coordination, including 3-D surgical planning and modeling by Andy Christensen of Medical Modeling Inc. “Without his support, it would have been a far more complicated path,” said Dallas WCF Medical Director Dr. Raul Barceló, who partnered closely with Dr. Salyer on the case.

“After more than a year of planning,” Dr. Barceló, reflected, “to see everything come together exactly as intended—that was the most rewarding moment.”

The complexity extended far beyond the separation itself. Ensuring there was enough tissue to safely reconstruct and protect the brain was critical.

“I remember Dr. Kenneth Shapiro, our lead neurosurgeon, looking at the expanded tissue and saying, ‘Oh my God, this is magic,’” Dr. Barceló recalled.

“As we stitched it into place, he confirmed, ‘We’re watertight.’ That was a key moment.”

Everything the team had worked toward had come together. The outcome was only possible through deep expertise and extraordinary collaboration.

The successful separation of Ahmed and Mohammed was more than a surgical achievement—it was a reflection of what is possible when expertise, collaboration, and a shared purpose come together.
“When we bring joy to one life, to two,” Dr. Salyer wrote, “we may bring joy to all of humankind.”

Continuing the collaboration started between Dr. Kenneth Salyer and Dr. Domenico Scopelliti, Ken Salyer Jr. Board Chair of World CF, is spearheading a new international strategic initiative aimed at amplifying support for specialized care, professional training, and groundbreaking research in craniofacial malformations.

Together with Smile House, WorldCF is dedicated to building upon Dr. Salyer’s legacy of providing life-changing treatments to children in need. Since its inception in 1989, WorldCF has provided millions of dollars of surgeries, offering hope and healing to thousands of children worldwide.

"Every child deserves access to life-saving and life-renewing medical treatment, regardless of their circumstances," emphasizes Ken Salyer Jr. "With approximately 40,000 children born annually with highly complex craniofacial deformities, our mission is more critical than ever."

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 700 children, equating to 270,000 births annually, are born with craniofacial deformities. While organizations like Smile Train, Smile House, Mercy Ships and Operation Smile focus on effectively addressing 85% of cleft lip and palate cases, WorldCF focuses on the remaining 15%, ensuring that no child is left behind in their journey towards a brighter future.

Together with Smile House, WorldCF stands united to provide life-saving treatments and renew hope for thousands of children worldwide.