Josie Hull (right) and her twin sister Teresa Cajas in July.Photo: Yuri Hasegawa
01of 09Josie (on right) and Teresa in 2002, just months before their separation.Amy Waddell/ UCLA Childrens Hospital/GettyJosie Hull and Teresa Cajas were born joined at the head on July 25, 2001 in a Guatemalan village to Wenceslao and Leticia Quiej-Alvarez. The twin sisters were not expected to live more than a year.
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Josie (on right) and Teresa in 2002, just months before their separation.Amy Waddell/ UCLA Childrens Hospital/Getty
Josie Hull and Teresa Cajas were born joined at the head on July 25, 2001 in a Guatemalan village to Wenceslao and Leticia Quiej-Alvarez. The twin sisters were not expected to live more than a year.
02of 09UCLA/GettyWith help from the nonprofit Healing the Children, the family was flown to Los Angeles and the twins underwent a grueling 23-hour separation surgery on Aug. 5, 2002 at UCLA Medical Center.
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UCLA/Getty
With help from the nonprofit Healing the Children, the family was flown to Los Angeles and the twins underwent a grueling 23-hour separation surgery on Aug. 5, 2002 at UCLA Medical Center.
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David Butow/Redux
04of 09David Butow/ReduxThough the girls have different families, Josie and Teresa live 50 miles apart and come together several times a week for physical therapy. Josie uses a walker and attended a public school while Teresa attended a special needs school.
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Though the girls have different families, Josie and Teresa live 50 miles apart and come together several times a week for physical therapy. Josie uses a walker and attended a public school while Teresa attended a special needs school.
05of 09Courtesy Children’s Hospital Los AngelesJosie and Teresa celebrated their Quinceanera at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where they received their separation surgery.
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Courtesy Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Josie and Teresa celebrated their Quinceanera at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where they received their separation surgery.
06of 09Courtesy Children’s Hospital Los AngelesThe twins celebrated their Quinceanera eating cake with hospital staff and family, and visited with many of the doctors, surgeons and nurses that have aided in their post-surgery treatment over the years.
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The twins celebrated their Quinceanera eating cake with hospital staff and family, and visited with many of the doctors, surgeons and nurses that have aided in their post-surgery treatment over the years.
07of 09David Butow/Redux"I adore her," Josie says of Teresa. “She can’t walk or talk, but I can understand her, and she can understand me. We communicate through our eyes.”
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“I adore her,” Josie says of Teresa. “She can’t walk or talk, but I can understand her, and she can understand me. We communicate through our eyes.”
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From left: Josie, mom Jenny, Teresa’s mom Florie and Teresa’s brother Werner at the twins' 21st birthday party.Yuri Hasegawa
09of 09Teresa (left) and Josie in July.Yuri Hasegawa"As soon as they see each other, their faces always light up," says Teresa’s brother of of the close bond between the twins. “They each know what the other has been through, and the moment teresa hears Josie’s voice, her face breaks into a big smile.”
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Teresa (left) and Josie in July.Yuri Hasegawa
“As soon as they see each other, their faces always light up,” says Teresa’s brother of of the close bond between the twins. “They each know what the other has been through, and the moment teresa hears Josie’s voice, her face breaks into a big smile.”
source: people.com
