Scenario

At the Occupational Therapy Show in November 2023, Debbie Palfrey, Moving & Handling Trainer at Cardiff City Council, approached Silvalea with an extraordinary challenge.

Marieme and Ndeye Ndiage are conjoined twins who had never experienced the freedom of standing and moving dynamically within a supportive harness system. Their father had long dreamed of seeing his daughters upright and able to move more naturally, but their unique anatomy meant that no existing product on the market could safely meet their needs.

Born in Senegal, Marieme and Ndeye came to the UK as babies in 2017 to receive specialist treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). The twins are joined at the chest and share several internal organs, as well as one pair of legs and a unique third shared arm.

Despite having access to a standing frame, achieving a naturally upright position with greater freedom of movement remained out of reach.

Debbie asked whether Silvalea could develop a completely bespoke walking harness around the girls’ individual dimensions, posture and support requirements. The challenge was passed to Silvalea’s Technical and Design Team to explore what might be possible.

The challenge was to create a solution that could:

• Support the twins safely in an upright position
• Accommodate their unique anatomy and positioning requirements
• Provide wide lateral and underarm support
• Improve balance and positioning during standing
• Enable greater freedom of movement while supported

Development

Following initial discussions and a video consultation, Silvalea Technical Team members Julie Robertson, Technical and Product Executive and Amanda Jenkins, Academy Manager visited Marieme and Ndeye and their multidisciplinary team at school in Cardiff in February 2025.

The assessment involved detailed discussions with the team, assessment of posture and support requirements, and measurements for a fully bespoke solution.

Silvalea’s Design Team — Julie Robertson, Amanda Jenkins and Lyn Chapman — then combined their expertise to develop two prototype concepts.

The first combined elements of two existing harness styles to provide wide lateral stability, underarm support and improved balance and positioning. The second focused specifically on supported standing and movement through a bespoke walking harness tailored to the twins’ dimensions, posture and support requirements.

The team also identified an important consideration around hoist compatibility. To direct the lifting tapes safely away from the girls’ faces and provide more open positioning during lifting, the school sourced a compatible four-point hoist system.

Two prototype harnesses were subsequently manufactured and, in October 2025, Julie and Amanda returned to Cardiff for the first fitting and trial alongside the girls’ wider care team.

The bespoke development process included:

• Detailed assessment and measurements
• Multidisciplinary collaboration
• Two prototype harness concepts
• Consideration of sling and hoist compatibility
• First fitting and standing trial
• Further measurements and design refinements based on real-world use

Success

An emotional and hugely successful first standing trial, as for the very first time, Marieme and Ndeye were able to stand upright within a bespoke harness system.

Following the initial trial, further measurements were taken and adjustments made to improve the sizing, fit and comfort of the harness. During a virtual follow-up, the Silvalea team were able to see the girls enjoying the experience of standing and moving with greater freedom and confidence.

For them, the harness represents far more than a moving and handling solution. It represents freedom, confidence and the ability to participate more fully in the same experiences as their peers.

The development did not stop after the initial success. As the girls continued using the harness, further refinements were made, including additional padding, changes around the groin area and a special request from Marieme and Ndeye themselves — their new harness had to be pink, which we of course accommodated by sourcing a fabric in the shade they wanted.

When Julie and Amanda returned to Cardiff in March 2026, the girls had grown significantly in confidence and were moving more freely and independently while supported.

Their father described the achievement with the words:

You are making history…

He later shared:

On behalf of my entire family, I wanted to express my gratitude to you… this has already made a big change in their lives. The prospect of being able to stand, walk and get in and around with their friends will contribute greatly to their self-worth. I can already feel how proud they are to have this support. Thank you so much for the immense efforts you’ve put into this project. You are making history…

For the Silvalea team, this feedback reinforced the true impact of bespoke innovation. This was about far more than developing a tailor-made harness; it was about helping two remarkable young girls experience new opportunities, increased confidence, greater independence and inclusion. 

The project demonstrates what can be achieved through clinical collaboration, bespoke product innovation and, most importantly, listening closely to the people at the centre of care.

Most importantly, the success of this journey belongs to Marieme and Ndeye, whose courage, positivity and determination inspired everyone involved, and has helped turn their father’s dream into a reality.

Watch Marieme and Ndeye using their new harness here.