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When they were babies, their mom concealed them with blankets in their stroller to stop prying eyes.
Now Chelsea Torres from Idaho in the US has started a social-media page for her conjoined twins to show the world how far they've come.
Callie and Carter (6) are joined at the sternum. They share a liver, intestinal track and bladder, and each controls one leg.
“When they were babies, it was hard for me. People would stare and take pictures. I actually ended up smashing someone’s phone,” Chelsea says.
But as the girls grew up, she managed to deal with the stares and gapes of strangers, and even learnt to welcome it.
“You’ll see us at the mall and at expos. We’re always out doing something. During the summer, we live at the pool,” she says.
Social media has allowed her and her daughters to connect with both young and adult conjoined twins. The girls have also taken a 12-hour road trip to meet other conjoined twins.
READ MORE| Joined at the hip: how these conjoined twins make life work even now one has fallen in love
Chelsea discovered she was expecting conjoined twins when she went for a routine check-up during her pregnancy. Doctors worried that she might have a miscarriage and suggested an abortion but she refused.
After the girls were born, Carter was put on a ventilator for two hours to help her breathe.
Once she was stabilised, the twins were discharged and the family moved to Houston, Texas, where medical professionals were better equipped to deal with their condition.
The girls use a custom wheelchair to get around but are learning to walk through physical therapy. They are able to take 40 steps, their proud mom says.
Even during lockdown, when they couldn't get to their physical therapy appointments, she continued with treatment at home. She researched walking exercises and helped the twins walk around the house as they held onto furniture.
Although the girls are identical twins, they have different personalities. Callie is more laidback and likes to watch YouTube videos, while Carter likes to build things.
When the girls need a break from each other, one will put on headphones and watch TV on a tablet.
“We try to give them their own time, even though they’re kind of stuck together,” Chelsea says.
Like many sets of twins, they share a close bond.
“They caress each other’s legs. Sometimes when Carter is anxious, she’ll draw a circle on Callie’s leg with her finger and just keep following it.”
Finding clothes for them is a challenge, she admits.
She typically buys two dresses, jackets or T-shirts before cutting and stitching them together.
She's often asked why they haven't been separated but she feels there's no need as the girls haven’t experienced any health problems.
“Doctors recommend doing it before the age of four because they won’t remember the pain,” she shares.
The twins also have no desire to be separated.
“They don’t know any other way of life. When people ask if they want to be separated, they’re like, 'Huh? Why?'"
Callie and Carter outgrew their car seat and their biggest battle now is finding another one.
“Shriners Hospital for Children in Salt Lake City, Utah, has a car seat clinic for children with special needs but the next available appointment isn’t until September."
In the face of all their trials and tribulations, Chelsea prefers to focus on the positive.
“Yes, they’re going to have challenges, but I know they’re going to be just fine because they have each other.”
SOURCES: TODAY.COM, TRULYCHANNEL.COM
