by Rachel Ogbu

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is celebrating the successful separation of 8-month-old twin girls who were joined at the lower chest and abdomen.

Surgeons at the Philadelphia hospital successfully completed operations and according to lead surgeon Holly Hedrick, the complex surgery “went very well and as expected.” She says the twins will be monitored closely during their recovery and should be able to live “full, healthy and independent lives.”

The surgery which took seven-hours to separate Allison and Amelia Tucker was completed Wednesday afternoon.

The twins are from Adams, N.Y. They shared their chest wall, diaphragm, pericardium and liver. Officials had said they were “excellent candidates” for separation.

Officials say the surgery was the 21st separation of conjoined twins performed at the hospital.