As of noon, Wednesday, Aug. 14, Maria Teresa and Maria de Jesus Quiej Alvarez remain in critical condition with stable vital signs in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at UCLA’s Mattel Children’s Hospital in Westwood. The breathing tube was removed from Maria de Jesus midday yesterday, Aug. 13, and she is now breathing on her own. Maria Teresa continues to rely on a respirator, but also is more alert.

Both girls slowly continue to grow more alert and more active. Doctors remain cautiously optimistic about their long-term prospects for recovery. The twins, conjoined at birth, were separated Aug. 6 in a nearly 23-hour surgery.