Doctors at UCLA’s Mattel Children’s Hospital discharged 23-month-old Guatemalan twin Maria de Jesus Quiej Alvarez June 7. She will stay with local volunteers from Healing the Children while her sister, Maria Teresa, continues to recuperate from a May 30 surgery.

Maria de Jesus was initially admitted to the hospital for an overall assessment after experiencing a convulsion and fever in Guatemala, as well as for an evaluation of her postoperative wounds.

“Maria de Jesus still has a small wound that needs more attention, but we can treat her as an outpatient now,� said Dr. Henry Kawamoto, the twins’ lead plastic and reconstructive surgeon. “We are using a special high-tech topical growth factor gel donated by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical to Maria de Jesus’ wound to accelerate wound healing.�

Called Regranex, the gel contains a factor normally found in the body (referred to as a platelet-derived growth factor) that is part of the body’s natural healing process.

Maria Teresa remains in good condition following a two-part surgery on May 30 to replace a shunt to help drain fluid from her brain and place a tube into her stomach for nutritional support while performing an anti-reflux procedure.

“Maria Teresa continues to progress each day from last week’s surgery,� said Dr. Jorge Lazareff, lead neurosurgeon for the twins’ medical team and director of pediatric neurosurgery. “However, it may take some time before we know the full extent of neurological damage that she suffered during her bout with E. coli meningitis in April.�

“We’re thrilled that Maria de Jesus is well enough to leave the hospital,� said Cris Embleton, co-founder of Healing the Children. “And, we’ll make sure that she comes back frequently to visit her sister, though, as they enjoy each other’s company.�

Healing The Children is the nonprofit organization that worked to bring the twins to UCLA last year for separation surgery, and arranged for the girls to fly to Los Angeles on May 22 for additional medical care.

To donate to the twins’ care, please send checks payable to the UCLA Foundation to the Twins Care at UCLA Fund, UCLA Medical Sciences Development, 10945 Le Conte Ave., Suite 3132, Los Angeles, CA 90095.

The formerly conjoined twins were separated during a nearly 23-hour surgery at UCLA on Aug. 6, 2002. They returned to Guatemala on Jan. 13.