"Maria de Jesus and Maria
Teresa Quiej Alvarez continue to stay with Healing The Children
volunteers in Southern California," said Mattel Children's
Hospital at UCLA pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Jorge Lazareff, who led
the 23-hour separation surgery in August 2002. "Maria de Jesus
(whose nickname is Josie) talks and walks with assistance and has
developed a charming personality, but Maria Teresa (whose nickname is
Teresita) remains more challenged because she developed meningitis
last year in Guatemala(2003). We continue to marvel at the improvement
that both girls have evidenced."
