Conjoined Twins Would’ve Died If They Weren’t Separated

12-year-old Carl and Clarence were conjoined twins at birth, but now lead separate lives after undergoing surgery 10 years ago at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

One twin is able to play video games and dance while the other has significant, possibly permanent, problems with walking and talking, according to NBC New York.

Despite this fact, the boys' mother is happy just to see her two sons live their lives.

"When they were born, the doctors at home [in the Philippines] told me, 'You have to choose which one is to live. I said, 'I cannot choose that.' The doctors here did not ask me to choose," stated Arlene Aguirre.

The boys were joined at the top of their heads and were unable to stand straight, eat normally or even see each other when they were born.

"If they hadn't come to us when they did, they would have just withered away and died," stated Dr. Robert Marion, the boys' pediatrician.

Marion added, "I am extremely proud of having been a part of this. I'm a little disappointed with some of the outcome but, clearly, to see how these kids have survived and are for the most part thriving, is really wonderful."

It took four surgeries over nine months to separate the twins, according to the news website. At birth, the conjoined twins shared a "bridge" of brain that had to be divided.

Aguirre, who raises her boys in Scarsdale, now throws birthday parties twice a year - April 21, the day they were born, and on August 4.

Although Arlene Aguiree has reportedly had to take on a multimillion-dollar cost, she has no regrets going through with the surgery for the conjoined twins.

"I did the right thing," stated Aguirre.