Maureen and Dilyse Lorello of South Portland have found a way to give back to their community and thank the hospital that saved their lives.

Born in 2001, the Lorello twins, now age 8, were born 14 weeks prematurely, both weighing a little more than 1.5 pounds.

They spent the first four and a half months of their lives in the natal intensive care unit at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center, fighting to survive, said their mother, Dawn Lorello.

The girls were mono-amniotic twins, meaning they were identical twins developing in the same amniotic sac. As they grew, the umbilical cord to which they were attached also grew, tightening around them, restricting blood flow and forcing premature labor.

The twins survived their ordeal and are now giving back to Maine Medical Center with the help of their own lemonade stand. Last year they unveiled the stand at Higgins Beach in Scarborough. They sold glasses of lemonade for 50 cents apiece and earned $40, which they later donated to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center.

“We want to support Maine Medical Center because we feel special about them,” Dilyse said. “We were born there and we just want to help them.”

The twins will be back at it again this Fourth of July, selling their cool, lemony treats to folks at Higgins Beach.

The idea for a lemonade stand came from Dawn Lorello’s mother, Frieda Thomas, who lives in Wiscasset. While leafing through magazines, she came across a Sunkist ad that said the company was giving away free lemonade stands for children to make money to donate to charity and learn a little about business and serving the community.

Frieda immediately called Dawn and a kit was ordered, Dawn said.

“The kits were made of cardboard and were quite nice,” Dawn said. “My mother signed us up to get one and when it came, the girls were so excited.”

Dawn and her husband, Francis, sat the girls down and told them they could pick any charity they wanted for which to raise money. Both quickly said they wanted to support Maine Medical Center.

As Maureen talks about her reasoning, she can’t help but become a little teary-eyed, she said.

“I think it really helps the kids in the hospital,” she said. “I think they need a lot of care.”

The girls are also part of the Children’s Miracle Network, a national organization that raises money for member hospitals to support programs dedicated to helping children fight diseases and other ailments.

The girls each year take part in Portland radio station 107.5 Frank FM’s radiothon in the spring.

“They have always been interested in helping and donating their time,” Dawn said. “We found the lemonade stand as another way for them to give back.”

For Dawn, the lemonade stand represents more than just earning money for a cause. It represents her daughters’ journey from a difficult birth to making a difference, she said.

“It’s really a miracle,” she said. “I wish I knew then how they would turn out now, it would’ve been a lot easier. They went through quite a bit in the hospitals with surgeries, and all in all, we’re just thankful they could get the care and get it so close to home.”

Sunkist didn’t renew the program this year, but the girls will reuse their stand from last year, Dawn said.

In addition to buying lemonade, customers can donate a little extra money to the cause and receive a chocolate chip cookie.

“It’s our way of saying thanks to them,” Dawn said.

The girls will operate their stand from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday near the beach.

Both said they are excited to pour the drinks, and also have a treat of their own.

“I like pouring the drinks,” Dilyse said. “I also like drinking the lemonade.”

Lemonade.jpg: Dilyse and Maureen Lorello, eight of South Portland, will sell lemonade again this Fourth of July at Higgins Beach to raise money for the Barbara Bush Children