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American Morning

Interview With Cris Embleton of Healing the Children

Aired May 28, 2003 - 09:43   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now the latest on the Guatemalan twins who have become known as the two Marias. The girls, who were separated in a 23-hour operation last August, continue to show improvement. But Maria Teresa faces more surgery on Thursday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. JORGE LAZAREFF, NEUROSURGEON: Maria Teresa, she had, as you all know, E. coli meningitis back in April, and the effects of the E. coli meningitis are obvious and seen on the child. But I still am absolutely hopeful, as I always was, since day one, that she will overcome this difficulty.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Cris Embleton, co-founder of the national organization Healing the Children went to Guatemala and brought the girls back to the U.S. for treatment. She is in L.A. this morning with more on that. Good morning to you, Cris, and thank you so much for being here.

Just want to ask you -- I know that you have been with them now since you picked them up. How do you think they're doing?

CRIS EMBLETON, HEALING THE CHILDREN: Well, Maria de Jesus is doing wonderfully well. She is spending her day charming everybody that she comes in contact with. The only reason she's in the hospital is because it's more of a preventive measure. She's under -- receiving antibiotics by I.V. and so that she will be OK. Maria Teresa is very -- quite sick at this time. However, the doctors at UCLA are very hopeful that with the treatment they're giving her, that she will have a bright future ahead.

And I must say, she does seem to be improving, even in the last couple days.

COLLINS: I know so many people are really watching this story and hope the very best will come of it. Tell us what the girls' mother said to you when you went to get them.

EMBLETON: Well, it was really quite heartbreaking. When I walked into the room, she was sitting there and jumped up and came over and gave me a hug and said, Cris, please save my babies.

And you know, when your kids are sick, it's very difficult as a parent, and she realized how serious Maria Teresa really was.

COLLINS: I'm sure she does.

EMBLETON: She kept saying, She's very bad, very bad.

COLLINS: Yes. Well, hopefully we will be getting some good news soon.

Josita and Teresita (ph) is also what they are known as, should let everybody know that.

Now, doctors have scheduled testing. They did that scheduling for her yesterday. Teresita (ph), that is. Is she well enough, do you think, to undergo surgery?

EMBLETON: Yes. I don't think we're in a situation at this point because of the excellent care they're receiving of worrying about them dying. I mean, that's always a possibility, but that isn't the situation. What we're trying to do is -- the doctors are trying to do is to correct the problem and redo her shunt so that she has a functioning shunt to relieve the fluid on her brain.

COLLINS: Well, the pictures are just absolutely adorable. And as I said, everyone will really be watching and hoping for the very best for those two little girls. Cris Embleton...

EMBLETON: They are very precious girls.

COLLINS: I'm sure they are. Co-founder of Healing the Children. Cris Embleton, thanks so much this morning.

EMBLETON: You're more than welcome.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired May 28, 2003 - 09:43   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now the latest on the Guatemalan twins who have become known as the two Marias. The girls, who were separated in a 23-hour operation last August, continue to show improvement. But Maria Teresa faces more surgery on Thursday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. JORGE LAZAREFF, NEUROSURGEON: Maria Teresa, she had, as you all know, E. coli meningitis back in April, and the effects of the E. coli meningitis are obvious and seen on the child. But I still am absolutely hopeful, as I always was, since day one, that she will overcome this difficulty.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Cris Embleton, co-founder of the national organization Healing the Children went to Guatemala and brought the girls back to the U.S. for treatment. She is in L.A. this morning with more on that. Good morning to you, Cris, and thank you so much for being here.

Just want to ask you -- I know that you have been with them now since you picked them up. How do you think they're doing?

CRIS EMBLETON, HEALING THE CHILDREN: Well, Maria de Jesus is doing wonderfully well. She is spending her day charming everybody that she comes in contact with. The only reason she's in the hospital is because it's more of a preventive measure. She's under -- receiving antibiotics by I.V. and so that she will be OK. Maria Teresa is very -- quite sick at this time. However, the doctors at UCLA are very hopeful that with the treatment they're giving her, that she will have a bright future ahead.

And I must say, she does seem to be improving, even in the last couple days.

COLLINS: I know so many people are really watching this story and hope the very best will come of it. Tell us what the girls' mother said to you when you went to get them.

EMBLETON: Well, it was really quite heartbreaking. When I walked into the room, she was sitting there and jumped up and came over and gave me a hug and said, Cris, please save my babies.

And you know, when your kids are sick, it's very difficult as a parent, and she realized how serious Maria Teresa really was.

COLLINS: I'm sure she does.

EMBLETON: She kept saying, She's very bad, very bad.

COLLINS: Yes. Well, hopefully we will be getting some good news soon.

Josita and Teresita (ph) is also what they are known as, should let everybody know that.

Now, doctors have scheduled testing. They did that scheduling for her yesterday. Teresita (ph), that is. Is she well enough, do you think, to undergo surgery?

EMBLETON: Yes. I don't think we're in a situation at this point because of the excellent care they're receiving of worrying about them dying. I mean, that's always a possibility, but that isn't the situation. What we're trying to do is -- the doctors are trying to do is to correct the problem and redo her shunt so that she has a functioning shunt to relieve the fluid on her brain.

COLLINS: Well, the pictures are just absolutely adorable. And as I said, everyone will really be watching and hoping for the very best for those two little girls. Cris Embleton...

EMBLETON: They are very precious girls.

COLLINS: I'm sure they are. Co-founder of Healing the Children. Cris Embleton, thanks so much this morning.

EMBLETON: You're more than welcome.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com