While raising the girls while they were infants was challenging for Torres, she now posts pictures and videos on social media to spread awareness and instruct others about living with conjoined twins. According to Torres, “We live at the pool during the summer.” “You can find us in expos and at malls. We are constantly engaged in the activity.
According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, conjoined twins are extremely uncommon and are only born once every 50,000 to 60,000 births. About 70% of conjoined twins are female, and the majority are stillborn or pass away soon after birth. Carter and Callie were born healthy, and they were only in the hospital for five weeks as they awaited the delivery of a special car seat.
According to NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital top surgeon Dr. Steven Stylianos, separation operations in situations like the Torres twins often have high survival rates. Conjoined twins with distinct hearts, heads, and brains are usually in good health despite the rigorous surgery.
Conjoined twins, however, can live a normal lifespan but may experience difficulties later in life. The hardest part of caring for conjoined twins, in Torres’ opinion, is having to sew all of their clothing.
To make clothes for Callie and Carter, she tears up two dresses, blouses, or jackets and sews them together. The twins have outgrown their custom car seat, and the next appointment for a clinic that helps parents of kids with special needs find car seats isn’t until later in the year.
Despite the difficulties, Torres has a happy attitude and concentrates on her favorite activities. She observes the stark differences in temperament between Callie and Carter, describing Callie as “very girlie” whereas Carter prefers to play video games with her nine-year-old brother.
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One of the girls will put on headphones and watch TV on a tablet when the other needs a break. They rub their legs together. Carter may occasionally trace a circle on Callie’s leg with her finger when she is concerned, according to Torres. The sisters use a wheelchair to get around, and in physical therapy, they are learning how to walk and coordinate their motions.
They can move 40 steps at the moment. Torres has made connections with older conjoined twins on social media who drive, date and have rewarding employment. Given that Callie and Carter have one other to rely on, she feels optimistic about their future. Undoubtedly, they will have difficulties, but Torres assures Us that they will manage just fine because they have each other.
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