(PITTSBURGH) - A set of conjoined twins from Cleveland have been successfully separated in a 24-hour surgery at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Danielle and Dagion Lee spent the last two years at the hospital as doctors prepared to perform the separation.

"Currently the twins are doing very well they're happy and healthy and will be discharged soon," Dr. Joseph Losee said.

A team of more than 50 doctors and nurses performed the separation on December 13th. The girls were joined from the chest to the groin, but they only shared a colon.

"They should have essentially a healthy life being separated there are some issues with walking they each have one lower extremity or one leg so that could make it challenging to walk upright," Losee said.

Catherine Nickson, the twins' mother, took the girls to Children's Hospital after they were born in December of 2006. She said the surgery was always

"I want them to have the best life they can possibly have and I've always read books about conjoined twins that say they don't make it they live to seven, I didn't want that to happen," Nickson said.

Doctors said Monday the girls would stay at the hospital for a couple more months before they can return home. Nickson said the first thing they plan to do is have a big birthday party for Danielle and Dagion.