As Gu Qiao graduates from high school and enters college, the formerly conjoined twin took time to visit and thank the doctors who successfully performed the risky separation that saved his life 18 years ago.

Gu was born in Dazu County in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality to a peasant family in 1996. He was connected to his sibling at the chest and stomach, and became the first to survive a separation operation for such a condition.

The baby boys suffered from several malformed organs. They were sent to Xinqiao Hospital of Third Military Medical University in Oct. 1996, Wang Weidong, former head of the hospital recalled.

"There was no successful separation operation on such rare conjoined twins before that time in China," Wang said. "But the boys could have died any minute if we hadn't performed the operation. I decided to take the chance to save their lives."

After 20 days of research and preparation, doctors from more than 20 departments including pediatrics, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases, performed a 10-hour surgery on the twins.

The parents named the twins "Xin" and "Qiao" following the surgery, in honor of the hospital, Xinqiao. Sadly, the second twin, Gu Xin, died about 20 days after the operation.

Conjoined twins are quite rare. The phenomenon is seen in an estimated one in 50,000 births to one in 100,000 births. Conjoined twins are identical twins joined in utero. Most conjoined twins are stillborn, and many pairs born alive have seriously debilitating abnormalities.

Gu Qiao cannot practice intense exercise and he has a long scar on his chest. Growing up, he was shy due to his physical appearance, said Gu Weihua, his father.

"I started to spend a lot of time reading books and seeing movies," said Gu Qiao. "Gradually, I was drawn by France and am looking forward to experiencing romance in that exotic country, just like in the books."

To realize his dream and to be closer to his parents, Gu Qiao has chosen to major in French at Sichuan International Studies University in Chongqing. He was accepted last week.

Wang, former head of the hospital, said during their reunion on Monday that he will help pay for Gu Qiao's tuition to ease the financial pressure of his family.

"Gu Qiao was an unfortunate boy when he first came to this world, but he was quite fortunate and strong to be the survivor. Therefore, he has more reason to pursue his dream and I will support him."

"The hard work of the doctors gave me the chance to fulfill my dream today," said Gu Qiao, "I will cherish it."