8 Years since separation

It is with great pleasure that we celebrate the girls 8 years of separation. Wow. When they wheeled them into the operating room 8 years ago this morning they were in for the fight of their lives and we didn't know what the outcome would be. The only words to describe it is, you fought and you won!! We also won the opportunity to have 2 angels remain here on earth with us.

It has been a journey that has included so many people from day one. Our dream one day is to meet and hug the nurses that took such great care of the girls during their first 9 months of life in Guatemala City. They taught them to love and to bond. We can't thank enough the courageous medical team at UCLA Medical Center lead by Dr. Jorge Lazareff and Dr. Henry Kawamoto for saying yes and then pouring there hearts, souls and medical expertise into saving these girls. To Barbara and Swati, their lead anathesioloists who not only did a great job, but have continued to love them and remain in their lives. Thank you to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles lead by Dr. Mark Urata, who had them at UCLA and then continued their care at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles(CHLA). Mark and Michelle Urata- you may be our doctors but more importantly you are our dear friends. To the clinics at CHLA that continue their care...Cranial Facial, Orthopedics, Neurology, Neuro Surgery, the Rehad unit especially Susan Knight and Jen Loiselle. Noreen Clarke whom we could not navigate CHLA so well without and for her continual love and support. We have had a lot of surprises that CHLA have dealt with so kindly and beautifully. To our communities and churches that have embraced us and welcomed the girls with open arms. To our friends who we turn to for continued support and to give us the normalcy of life in our social settings. To our therapists and teachers who continue to strengthen them everyday. To Liz Bunkell for saying yes to both girls and bettering them everyday. To our Michigan therapy team, Przemek and Sylwia who are making dreams come true right in front of our eyes.

To our families who we absolutely could not survive a day without. What you do for us and the girls is miraculous. We might have said yes initially to taking these girls, but you also jumped in to make it the best possible. To Mending Kids International that really rolled the dice on a case way out of anyones league and took it on like champions. To Robyn and Grandma Cris for more then anyone can ever imagine. There aren't enough words to say to extend our gratitude. To Lori Jo who died 20 years to the day of the separation of the girls. Because of the death of this dear 9 month old baby, Cris Embleton vowed never to let a child die in front of her that given medical treatment would live. Josie and Teresa luckily crossed her path and she indeed did what it took to save their lives. You can't imagine a more heroic lady than Cris. We are proud to call you Grandma. And to Wenceslao and Lety for being the bravest humans I know to selflessly allow the girls to be where they can safely live out their lives near the best medical personal we can assemble. You are our heroes. Most of all, to our gracious Lord and our mother, Mary, who has chosen and guided the path of these girls. We all are eternally grateful that you picked us to be amongst these special souls to teach us the real meaning of life and love.

Tonight we squeeze these girls a little tighter and rejoice in the past 8 years of this miracle. They have taught us so much about strength, love, courage and pure joy. Maria Teresa (Teresa) and Maria de Jesus (Josie) we love you and honor you tonight and always.

Lovingly, The Hulls and The Cajas