Separated Twin Moved Out of Intensive Care

The formerly conjoined twins from Guatemala are both improving, and one of them, Maria de Jesus Quiej Alvarez, has been moved from intensive care to a regular room, doctors at UCLA’s Mattel Children’s Hospital said Friday.

The 14-month-old also was upgraded to good condition, and while her sister, Maria Teresa, remains in intensive care, her condition has been upgraded to fair.

“Maria de Jesus was able to leave the intensive care unit because she no longer requires a drain to relieve extra fluid from her brain,” said Dr. Jorge Lazareff, director of the UCLA pediatric neurosurgery program and lead neurosurgeon on the case.

The girls, conjoined at the head at birth, were separated in a surgery Aug. 6 that took nearly 23 hours. The doctors anticipate both will be well enough to return home to Guatemala in October.