After years of hiding, mom proudly celebrates her conjoined twins and the power of acceptance

Chelsea Torres, a 30-year-old pharmacy technician from Blackfoot, Idaho, is raising awareness about conjoined twins through her daughters, Callie and Carter. The six-year-old twins are connected from the sternum down, sharing a liver, intestinal tract, and bladder, but each has her own heart and stomach. While the early years were challenging for Torres, she now uses social media to share photos and videos, educating others about life with conjoined twins. “During the summer, we live at the pool,” Torres tells TODAY. “You’ll see us at the mall and at expos. We’re always out doing something.”

Conjoined twins are rare, occurring once in every 50,000 to 60,000 births, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Approximately 70% of conjoined twins are female, and most are stillborn or die shortly after birth. Callie and Carter, however, were born healthy and spent only five weeks in the hospital, awaiting a special car seat.

While some conjoined twins undergo separation surgery, Torres and her husband Nick have no plans for Callie and Carter to do so. “They don’t have any health issues,” Torres explains, noting that the 24-hour surgery is “extremely risky.” Doctors recommend performing the surgery before age four, as younger children have a better chance of survival and are less likely to remember the pain. Callie and Carter have never expressed a desire to be separated, and Torres emphasizes that they “don't know any other way of life."

Dr. Steven Stylianos, surgeon-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, notes that separation surgeries for cases like the Torres twins generally have good survival rates. While the operation is demanding, conjoined twins with separate hearts, heads, and brains are typically in good condition. However, conjoined twins can live a normal lifespan but may encounter challenges later in life.

For Torres, the most challenging aspect of having conjoined twins is sewing all their clothes. She cuts up two dresses, shirts, or jackets and stitches them together to create outfits for Callie and Carter. Additionally, the twins have outgrown their custom car seat, and the next available appointment for a car seat clinic for children with special needs isn't until later in the year.

Despite the challenges, Torres remains positive and focuses on the things that bring her joy. She points out that Callie and Carter have distinct personalities, with Callie being “really girly” and Carter enjoying playing video games with her nine-year-old brother. When the girls need some time apart, one will put on headphones and watch TV on a tablet.

“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,” Torres reveals. The sisters get around in a wheelchair and are learning how to walk and coordinate their movements in physical therapy. They are currently able to take 40 steps.

Through social media, Torres has connected with older conjoined twins who drive, date, and have fulfilling careers. She remains hopeful about Callie and Carter's future, confident that they will thrive with each other to rely on. “Yes, they're going to have challenges, but I know they're going to be just fine because they have each other," Torres tells TODAY.

This article was originally published on April 4, 2023. It has since been updated.