Separated Twin Sisters Improving Daily
Formerly conjoined Guatemalan twins Maria Teresa and Maria de Jesus Quiej Alvarez were steadily improving Monday after last week’s surgery to separate them, officials said.
“They are continuing to improve ever so slightly every day,” said Dr. Irwin Weiss, pediatric intensive care specialist.
Doctors have reduced their anesthesia, although they are still heavily sedated.
“Hopefully in the next several days they’ll be able to breathe on their own,” Weiss said.
The year-old girls, who shared portions of their skull and several important blood vessels, came to UCLA’s Mattel Children’s Hospital from Guatemala in June. After the 22-hour surgery, Maria Teresa was rushed back to the operating room to remove a pool of blood under her scalp.
Maria Teresa is improving, although Maria de Jesus is more responsive to stimuli, including clapping. Maria Teresa “is catching up,” Weiss said.
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