'Extraordinary People': Sharing a body to being told they will last 3 days, here is Carmen and Lupita's story
Carmen and Lupita Andrade are conjoined twins. They share the same bloodstream but have their pair of lungs, stomach, hearts, and a spine that connects to one along with a shared abdomen. One might think that Carmen and Lupita will struggle to live a normal life but the sisters happened to beat the odds with a smile on their faces.
When Carmen and Lupita first came to the US from Mexico, the doctors informed their parents that the sisters will only have three days to live. Some doctors in Mexico had informed the family to choose one of them in a bid to keep at least one alive. However, once they arrived in the US, they heard a different story.
The doctors told them about the risk that would come with separating them and it would lead to one of the two things: either both of them will die or they will spend the rest of their lives in the intensive care. Undoubtedly, their parents decided to not change anything about the sisters and the pair soon learned how to walk and get comfortable in their bodies.
Opening up about their living condition, Carmen, who believes is the more talkative one, explained that they have accepted this as their reality and it is normal for them. Meanwhile, Lupita, who Carmen describes as "selectively mute", has learned to laugh at it or themselves as the days go on.
Carmen and Lupita's family has been staying in the US for nearly 19 years with the help of a special visa that grants people to stay in the country if they require special medical help. The family first came to the country when the sisters were two years old and since then, they have been applying for this grant every year to make sure their medical needs are met.
Appearing on the show, Carmen and Lupita also wanted to break certain assumptions that people might have about conjoined twins. They revealed that they go to school like every other teenager and have friends who they love to hang out with. To add to this, Carmen has been learning how to drive as she wants to become independent and prove the world that there is nothing that they cannot do.
However, amid this, Carmen and Lupita also have to face reality and deal with the health conditions that take place due to their situation. Carmen revealed that a couple of years ago she felt excessive pain in her stomach and had to meet the doctor immediately. While the doctors thought it could be a tumor, several MRIs later they found out that Carmen was going through menopause.
She admitted that one would think it is absurd for a 19-year-old to have menopause but stated that her condition does not make it that surprising. Meanwhile, Lupita has had issues with her lungs and has to consult a doctor now and then for it. The pair admitted that even after all these years, there are few things that the doctors have not yet fully understood when it comes to conjoined twins.
The doctors, who have been working with Carmen and Lupita, admitted that they are still finding out new things as and when a problem arises. Despite all this, the sisters admitted they are focused on the present and have decided to not think about what happens in the future.
After successfully graduating high school, they now hope to have a good start at life as they take college classes.
'Extraordinary People' airs at 10 pm ET on TLC.
