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| Sunday, 27 July 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Guatemalan twins, once joined at head, celebrate second birthday LOS ANGELES, July 26 The Guatemalan twins joined at their skulls at birth, celebrated their second birthday Friday in the Los Angeles hospital where they were separated in a dramatic operation nearly one year ago. Maria de Jesus Quiej Alvarez will go to the hospital to join her twin Maria Teresa, who has was re-admitted in April with complications stemming from the complex separation operation, hospital spokeswoman Roxane Moster said. Jorge Lazareff, the doctor at the University of California at Los Angeles Mattel Children's Hospital who led the operation to separate them, has said that Maria Teresa is suffering brain development problems. Maria de Jesus, who doctors say is recovering well, left the hospital last month and is staying with family that belongs to Healing the Children, the organization that arranged from the twins to leave their Guatemalan village to undergo the surgery in Los Angeles. The family brings Maria de Jesus to the hospital at least twice a week to see her sister, Moster said. Maria Teresa underwent surgery in June to replace a fluid-draining valve from the base of her head after the last one became contaminated, forcing its removal and subsequent replacement. The girls captured worldwide attention when they were separated last August. Conjoined siblings joined at the skull are the rarest of Siamese twins, making up only two percent of all known cases. |
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