Three UCLA Doctors Fly to Guatemala to Help Treat One of the ‘Little Marias’

A team of UCLA physicians flew to Guatemala on Monday night to help treat one of two formerly conjoined twins who fell critically ill with an infection this month, medical officials said.

In a prepared statement released Monday, officials at UCLA’s Mattel Children’s Hospital said 21-month-old Maria Teresa Quiej Alvarez had “improved significantly” since she was hospitalized two weeks ago in Guatemala City with E. coli meningitis. However, officials said that three UCLA physicians were accepting an invitation from the girl’s pediatrician in Guatemala, Dr. Ludwig Ovalle, to consult on her case.

“The good news is that Maria Teresa’s condition has improved significantly and she is doing much better,” said Jorge Lazareff, director of pediatric surgery at UCLA. “Dr. Ovalle has provided her with excellent care and has invited us to Guatemala to consult on her case. We have remained in close contact with him since the twins left UCLA on Jan. 13, and I have offered our ongoing support.”

Lazareff and two UCLA anesthesiologists, Barbara Van De Wiele and Swati Patel, were scheduled to fly to Guatemala Monday evening and return Wednesday.

Maria Teresa was separated from her sister Maria de Jesus in a 23-hour operation performed at UCLA in August. The girls, who were attached at the head, returned home to Guatemala in January.

The story of the “Little Marias” has attracted worldwide attention. The pair appeared to be thriving until very recently, when Maria Teresa fell ill.

The Guatemala Pediatric Foundation said that a valve inserted into the girl’s skull to prevent the buildup of fluid was found to be infected.