“The two marias”: the incredible story of the conjoined twins separated after a 23-hour surgery.
Maria de Jesus and Maria Teresa Alvarez, two Guatemalan twins, made medical history with their incredible journey. Born in 2001 in Guatemala with a rare form of cranial conjoining, they faced an extremely complex medical situation from birth.
With the help of a humanitarian organization, the twins were transferred to the United States to receive specialized care.
After several months of preparation and medical examinations, a team of more than forty healthcare professionals performed a particularly delicate surgery on August 6, 2002, which lasted nearly twenty-three hours. The procedure, led in part by a well-known neurosurgeon and another craniofacial surgeon, drew worldwide media attention.
Despite numerous challenges and considerable risks, the surgery was ultimately successful, giving the two sisters the opportunity to live separately and begin a new chapter in their lives.
👉 Discover photos of the twins after their separation and how they have grown, in the first comment 👇👇👇👇.
Today, the two sisters live in Southern California with their adoptive families but remain very close to each other. Maria de Jesus, now called Josie, attends a regular school. Very sociable, she especially enjoys swimming and singing.
Despite some physical difficulties, she has learned to walk with the help of quad canes. Her sister Maria Teresa, now called Teresita, faced more medical complications and developmental challenges.
However, she participates enthusiastically in school activities, including art, music, and computer studies. She also enjoys swimming and horseback riding.
During their return to the hospital, the twins decorated the rooms of several hospitalized children with the help of volunteers.
They also reunited with some of the doctors, nurses, and staff who cared for them as babies. This meeting was particularly emotional, especially when a maintenance worker who visited them daily during their 2002 hospitalization was able to see them again.
Despite their physical separation, the two sisters remain very close and seem to retain a special way of communicating with each other. Their story today is a symbol of hope and solidarity.
