It's very sad. They seemed so full of life and bravely faced this surgery. The risks were many. Of course, the guilt of surviving alone was one risk but they also could have faced living in a vegetative state. All or nothing was the best to be hoped for. Unfortunately, it was nothing. (When this type of surgery is performed on children the chances are increased because the brain tissue will regenerate. It doesn't in adults.)
They did go through extensive counseling prior to the surgery. Two of the reasons doctors agreed to the surgery was because having their heads at that angle caused them to live with tremendous headaches. They were in pain. They were also suffering emotional pain and had tremendous bouts of depression. They stated that one wanted to be a lawyer and the other a journalist. Imagine not being able to pursue a dream.