Conjoined twins, 16, who have survived against all odds ‘devastated’ to hear they must be separated by surgery

TEENAGE conjoined twins have told of their "devastation" at the news they must be separated by surgery.

While most conjoined twins die within the first few days of being born, Carmen and Lupita, 16, have survived against all the odds.

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The pair, who are joined at the chest wall down to the pelvis where their spines meet, were born in Mexico but travelled as babies to Connecticut in America with their family.

Like most girls their age they go to school and enjoy hanging out with friends.

But now Carmen and Lupita face the all-important decision about when they should undergo life-changing surgery to separate them.

Both girls have their own heart and lungs, two arms and one leg each - Carmen's is the right and Lupita's the left.

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But doctors have warned them they would face serious medical issues in the near future if they do not have the operation.

The girls told the that the idea of being separated is "devastating".

Lupita explained how they are "so dependent on each other" that she doubts they could get used to not being conjoined.

To make matters worse, the family are terrified they may be forced to leave the country if US President Donald Trump axes the work permit programme that has allowed them to stay in the country.

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But while the physical and financial practicalities of being separated are difficult enough to deal with, for the teenagers their biggest fear is losing each other.

"We've been so used to, like, being together," Carmen admitted.

"I don't think there'd be, like, a point."

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Like Carmen and Lupita, last year we told how conjoined twins Pin and Pan, seven, also didn't want to be separated.

The seven-year-old sisters, from Thailand, were born with their own heads, torsos, and arms but are connected at the waist.

We also told how conjoined twin girls survived a 23-hour surgery to separate them in an operation hailed as a "first for sub-Saharan Africa".

In October we reported on how twins conjoined at the head were separated after an incredible 20-hour surgery.