Alison and Amelia Tucker finally received the surgery they’ve been waiting eight months for.

Yesterday afternoon, surgeons at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia successfully separated the 8-month-old conjoined twins. Hospitalized since birth, the twins from Adams, New York shared a chest wall, diaphragm, pericardium and liver. This situation occurs in 1 of 60,000 births, and often results in a stillbirth. To say these two beat the odds would be an understatement. They did, however, have a great team taking care of them. Prior to this procedure, the hospital had performed 20 separation surgeries.

It took 40 surgeons seven hours to complete the complicated procedure, but Lead surgeon Holly Hedrick told Time Healthland that it “went very well.” She adds that Alison and Amelia have a long road to recovery, but will be able to live, “full, healthy and independent lives.”

Congratulations to the twins and their family!

Plus, more from The Bump:

Twins: Fact or Fiction

Secrets for Moms of Multiples

What It’s Really Like to Grow Up as a Twin