Shellie Tucker revealed her gratitude on Nov. 7 after a dangerous surgery to separate her 8-month-old conjoined twins, Allison and Amelia Tucker, “went very well,” according to doctors.

Holly Hedrick from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where the surgery was performed, said the operation was successful “as expected,” and expects the twins to live “full, healthy, and independent lives.”

The Tucker twins were conjoined at the chest wall, diaphragm, pericardium and liver, and underwent a longer than 6-hour surgery on Nov. 6 to separate them.

Shellie gave an update on the surgery on her blog on caringbridge.org on Nov. 7:

“Today it is a time to celebrate, to be thankful, to appreciate, to praise, and to enjoy this weight lifted off our shoulders. Greg and I are proud to announce our girls Amelia and Allison are separated successfully. Today started off with fear, anxiousness, nervousness, and excitement. Greg and I went into this knowing some facts but not all. We trusted our surgeons and hoped for the best. We never could imagine the outcome being as great as it was.”

The proud mom underwent an emergency C section to deliver the twins back in March, and doctors said the girls were excellent candidates for surgery as they grew older.

This operation was the 21st of its kind at the Philadelphia hospital.

“We are beyond exhausted and yet relieved. The girls do have a long recovery,” she wrote on her blog. “Our next step is to get [them] healed so we can get them home before Christmas. Please pray we can!”

We’re so excited to hear the twins are doing well!

What do YOU think of this story HollyMoms?

More conjoined twins:

1. Conjoined Twins Were Successfully Separated After A 20-Hour Surgery!
2. Conjoined Twins Connected At The Head Are Separated After ‘Miracle’ Surgery!
3. http://hollywoodlife.com/2011/09/14/conjoined-twins-separated-13-hour-surgery/