Twin Guatemalan girls born fused at the skull returned home Monday after successful surgery to the welcoming arms of families, friends and dignitaries.
Seventeen-month-old Maria Teresa Quiej Alvarez and Maria de Jesus were separated Aug. 6 in a 23-hour operation in Los Angeles.
Known as “The Little Marias,” the twins are seen as a symbol of hope in a country where many people have little to look forward to.
After a few days to assimilate to their country’s climate and altitude, the twins will move into a new home at a private pediatric foundation built for them on the outskirts of the Guatemalan capital. There, a team of nurses will provide 24-hour care for the twins and medical training for their mother, Alba Leticia Alvarez, 23.
Maria Teresa, whom doctors recently fitted with a hearing aid, has lagged behind her sister in her development. Both girls have yet to walk or begin talking.
The cost of the surgery and medical care totaled $2 million, said UCLA spokesman Dan Page. Of that, $470,000 was defrayed by donations–mostly an anonymous $450,000 gift.
