Formerly conjoined twins Knatalye Hope and Adeline Faith Mata are doing well after undergoing separation surgery last week. 

The 10-month-old girls were fused from the ribcage to the pelvis, and shared a liver, lungs, colon, and other organs. 

Parents Eric and Elysse found out that separating their daughters was possible after doctors discovered they have separate hearts. Initially, though, the Matas said doctors suggested abortion. 

"I told him, 'I don't care what the case is, I'm going to go as long as I can, and if God decides that he needs them more, then so be it,'" Elysse recounted. 

Although the separation surgery was risky, the parents believed it was in the best interest of the babies. 

"I want to give them a shot at a normal life as much as possible," Elysse said. "I feel like they've come this far, why hold back? Why not follow through? Why not give them that chance?"

The operation was conducted at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston - the same hospital where the twins were born nine weeks premature in April 2014.

"Separating conjoined twins is a very complicated task and there are lots of risks involved, and death is absolutely one of those risks," Dr Darrell Cass, the leader of the twins' surgical team admitted. 

Elysse, although nervous, continued to put her daughters' fate in God's hands. 

"I just don't want to lose them, and I know there's that risk," she shared. "But I have this peace of mind, this faith in God that He's done everything for a reason and that He's got control of it, and I feel like He's going to bring them through it."

The 23-hour surgery was successful with few complications, and both girls are awake and recovering well in the hospital.