Conjoined Twins Doing Well Six Weeks After Separation Surgery at CHOP
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The public today got its first look at two little girls who have been through a lot.
Six weeks after being separated at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the conjoined twin girls were introduced at a hospital press conference.
Doctors say they expect the twins -- Allison June and Amelia Lee Tucker -- will now enjoy full, healthy, and independent lives.
The pair are now nearly 10 months old. They were born joined at the lower chest and abdomen. They shared one chest wall, diaphragm, pericardium, and liver.
"Its been a pure roller coaster of emotions," says the girls' mother, Shellie Tucker. "They're happy. But you can tell when they get together that they become totally different babies -- they are so happy and relieved that they are with their sister."
Allison was discharged earlier this week. Doctors say her sister Amelia will need a longer recovery time and is expected to stay at CHOP into the first part of next year.
A 40-member, multidisciplinary team carried out the delicate, seven-hour separation early last month.
The Tuckers moved to the Philadelphia area from New York State to be close to their daughters.
