Yurelia and Fiorella Rocha-Arias arrived in the United States July 25th to receive a very rare operation that is not available in Costa Rica.  The conjoined twins have made the trek with their parents to Palo Alto, California for the surgery to separate their conjoined chest, liver, and heart. 

It is a complicated surgery that will not even take place until November; because of the all the pre-op details that need take place.  They have injected a small balloon in the girl’s abdomen to stretch the skin so that when they are separated they will each have enough skin to complete their own chests. 

As of right now the 2 year old girls can barely stand and can not walk.  They are happy little girls who like to play but are starting to demand more freedom.  Back in San Jose, they were only ever hospitalized for minor colds and respiratory troubles. 

The surgery has a 50% chance of survival and in the past year there have been five such surgeries in the United States. 

Costa Rica has followed this family on their journey and the entire country is hoping for the best for these little girls. 

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Filed under: Costa Rica News on September 21st, 2007