MENDING KIDS INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF LIFE WITH JOSIE AND TERESITA, “THE TWO MARIAS”
(Burbank, CA – August 1, 2011) Imagine being born a twin, and not being able to see your sibling’s face –– even though your eyesight is perfect, and your twin lives in the same house. That was the case for two little girls who were born nearly a decade ago in Guatemala.
The sisters, who became known to the world as “the Two Marias,” were born craniopagus twins, conjoined at the head. In August 2003, with the help of Mending Kids International and a team of skilled surgeons at UCLA Medical Center, the girls were given a second chance at life. After a ground-breaking 23-hour surgery that would make medical history, the girls were separated and their individual journeys were set to begin.
Following their successful operation and months of recovery, the girls returned home to Guatemala to be with their parents. Within 4 months of their return, however, both girls fell deathly ill, and it became apparent that their fragile medical conditions were too challenging for their family and the physicians in Guatemala to handle. They were quickly returned to the United States to be treated, and it became imperative for the well being of the girls to live close to the necessary medical facilities in the United States. The twins’ biological parents continue to visit the U.S. a couple times a year to see the girls.
Today Maria Jesus, known as Josie, loves being with her friends, likes to sing, draw, and performing with her synchronized swim team. She attends a public elementary school and will be entering the fourth grade in the fall. Josie has spent the past five summers in Michigan at an intensive physical therapy center learning to walk, and has made huge strides towards her goal.
Although she has had to overcome more medical obstacles Maria Teresa, or Teresita as she is called by friends and family, enjoys going to school where she participates in activities such as art, music, and computers. She also likes to swim and go horseback riding as often as she can. Even though she is non-verbal, Teresita is extremely communicative.
Despite their physical and small geographical separation, the twins are still very much one – maintaining their own secret way of communicating as they have since birth. They see each other several times a week and their parents agree that they light up when they’re together.
It has been nearly nine years since they were separated. The girls look forward to celebrating their 10thbirthday together this summer. The girls bring great joy to all that surround them. Through their inspirational story, many more children around the world are able to seek life changing medical care through Mending Kids International.
For more on their remarkable story, or Mending Kids International, please contact Marchelle Sellers, Executive Director, at marchelle@mendingkids.org, or Erin Carenzo, Director of Marketing, at erin@mendingkids.org, or 818.843.6363.
Mending Kids International will be throwing Josie and Teresita a 10th birthday party on Saturday, August 6th from 11am – 4pm, in Malibu, CA. Please email or call the number above if you are interested in attending or sending a crew.
Contact:
Marchelle Sellers@ marchelle@mendingkids.org
Erin Carenzo @ erinc@mendingkids.org
Phone: 818.843.6363
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