Guatemala City
Twin girls, born fused at the skull, returned to Guatemala this week, five months after U.S. surgeons separated them in a marathon operation. Maria Teresa and Maria de Jesus Quiej Alvarez, 17 months old, still face years of operations and physical therapy. Charities and individual donors pitched in to pay their hospital bills, which reached $2 million during their stay in Los Angeles. A team of nurses will continue watching them around the clock. The Guatemala Pediatric Foundation built the family a new house in their village. Alma Rodriquez, who went to the airport to welcome the girls home, said they were heroes for surviving against long odds. “They give you hope.”
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