There were tears, quiet smiles and a profound sense of relief at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby 3 June, as baby Sawong Kevin Mitian — one of Papua New Guinea's conjoined twins born last October — finally returned home after spending six months in Australia receiving specialist medical care following separation surgery.
Cradled in his mother's arms as he arrived at the airport, Sawong's return marked the culmination of months of medical treatment and the efforts of healthcare workers, aviation personnel, government officials and supporters in Papua New Guinea and Australia.
Born on October 9, 2025, at Braun Memorial Hospital in Finschhafen, Morobe Province, through a caesarean section, Sawong and his twin brother, Tom, entered the world joined together — a rare and complex condition that placed them in immediate danger.
Within 48 hours, on October 11, Manolos Aviation helicopter pilot Captain Jurgen Ruh launched a life-saving mission, flying into Finschhafen to evacuate the newborn twins to Angau Memorial Hospital in Lae. The critical response was carried out through his humanitarian work with the Mountain Area Medical Airlift Foundation.
Four days later, Captain Ruh undertook another crucial mission, flying the twins on a 90-minute journey to Port Moresby General Hospital, where specialists assessed their condition. For weeks, uncertainty loomed as doctors explored treatment options before concluding that little more could be done locally.
Captain Ruh said he was unwilling to accept that there were no further options available for the twins and began contacting hospitals overseas in search of specialist treatment.
In the weeks that followed, he reached out to hospitals in Germany, India and Australia in an effort to secure medical assistance.
According to Captain Ruh, those efforts eventually led to discussions with the Australian Government and specialist medical teams, who agreed to assess the twins and explore treatment options.
Medical professionals subsequently travelled to Port Moresby, paving the way for the twins' transfer to The Children's Hospital at Westmead in Sydney for separation surgery.
The operation marked both a triumph and a tragedy. While it saved Sawong's life, his brother Tom sadly passed away shortly afterwards. Sawong and his parents then remained in Australia for six months, where he underwent further treatment, surgery and recovery under the care of specialist doctors and nurses before being cleared to return home.
The journey, however, was far from smooth.
"The journey to bring the twins to Australia wasn't easy ... there were so many man-made hiccups along the way. I was called many names, told I was immature, that I was giving false hope to the parents," Captain Ruh said, his voice breaking with emotion as he stood at the airport.
"Having one of the twins returning alive is proof that none of this was done in vain. When I took the twins from Angau Hospital to our helicopter to medivac them to Port Moresby, baby Sawong's eyes were fixed on mine without blinking ... it was as if he was saying, 'I just want to live," he added.
The family's return also drew attention to the individuals and organisations that supported them throughout their medical journey.
Among them was Mrs Janet Sios and her team from Paradise Private Hospital, who cared for the twins for three weeks at their medical facility in Port Moresby before their transfer overseas and again upon Sawong's return.
According to Mrs Sios, the hospital provided medical care, accommodation and support services free of charge during that period.
She said the hospital committed significant resources, staff time and expertise to ensure the twins were stabilised and cared for during a critical phase of their journey, easing a substantial financial and emotional burden on the family.
"It's the heart that we have ... having a good heart means going beyond to help. We would rather know we tried than do nothing at all," Mrs Sios said, wiping away tears.
Even during the journey home, the family continued to encounter acts of generosity.
At Brisbane Airport, baby Sawong and his parents crossed paths with veteran Lae businessman and senior statesman Sir Bob Sinclaire, who was travelling on the same Air Niugini flight to Port Moresby.
After learning of the family's experience, Sir Bob committed to personally fund baby Sawong's education from primary school through to university.
Air Niugini also provided assistance for the family's return to Papua New Guinea.
The national airline transported Sawong and his parents from Brisbane to Port Moresby at no cost and upgraded them to business class as part of its community service commitment. Ground staff in Sydney, Brisbane and Port Moresby also assisted the family throughout their journey. The airline additionally covered the family's onward travel from Port Moresby to Lae.
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Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer Alan Milne acknowledged the collective effort behind the story.
"Where Air Niugini is able to assist, we are more than happy to do so as part of our community service effort. Over the years, we've supported countless medical cases and will continue to do so. But the real heroes in this story are Captain Ruh, Mrs Sios, the medical teams here in Papua New Guinea and in Sydney, as well as the Australian Government and its partners for the medivac and care provided to baby Sawong," he said.
Both parents, Kevin and Fetima, said they were overwhelmed by the support shown throughout their journey.
Speaking through tears, Fetima said: "Displa support em bikpla tumas, mipla painim hard lo toktok."
She later added in English: "The support we received from everyone is overwhelming. We simply don't have the words to express our gratitude."
For Captain Ruh, who has carried out countless medical evacuation missions across some of Papua New Guinea's most remote and challenging terrain through his work with Manolos Aviation, the mission became far more than another humanitarian assignment. It became a deeply personal journey.
Sawong and his family remained in Port Moresby for several more days before travelling to Lae and eventually returning to Gingala village in Finschhafen — where their remarkable journey began.
Captain Ruh flew the family on the final leg of their journey home.
Reflecting on the experience, Captain Ruh said Sawong's survival demonstrated what could be achieved when medical professionals, businesses, governments and ordinary individuals worked together to support a family in need.
