Twins separated 10 years ago doing fine

Lara Turner sits with her granddaughters, Tiesha, right, and Iesha, during a CNN interview.

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(CNN) -- The recent surgery separating conjoined baby girls from Guatemala garnered intense media attention. Life as separate people has just begun for the "little Marias."

Tiesha Turner and her sister, Iesha, have both been there. Born conjoined twins, the girls were separated when they were only 14 months old -- 10 years ago. The 11-year-old twins, accompanied by their grandmother Lark Turner, spoke witth CNN's Bill Hemmer.

HEMMER: Good to see all you guys -- good morning.

LARK TURNER: Good morning.

TIESHA: Good morning.

IESHA: Good morning.

HEMMER: Lark, take us back to about 10 years. How difficult was it for you to make this decision to go forward with the surgery?

TURNER: Very difficult. There is no easy yes and no answer. But we had a lot of support ... from the people at Texas Children's Hospital. The doctors, the staff, they worked with us on a month-to-month basis. So that helped out a whole lot.

HEMMER: Look at those girls. They are sitting next to you and beaming and happy and healthy, and it just looks like a living miracle. Do you see it that way or not?

GRANDMOTHER: I really do. We are so blessed, and I call them miracles every day.

HEMMER: Yes. Now, Iesha, sitting to your right, went back in the hospital for 14 months after she was separated. Was there a time when you thought you might lose her?

TURNER: There was a time when we thought we might lose both of them. Tiesha had respiratory problems -- and a lung problem, so every time she would even wake up, she would go into respiratory distress. So there were a lot of scary moments.

HEMMER: What did you think when Maria Teresa went back into surgery earlier this week at UCLA? I'm curious to know your thoughts or your feelings, as you were listening from Texas about this story happening in California.

TURNER: Well, ever since my girls went through this, we have such a connection to all twins, and we keep a close contact on that. And our prayers have really been going out, because I know what an intense moment it can be and how hard it can be not knowing and the uncertainty. But we were praying with them and for them.

HEMMER: You certainly have a bond with the others. Hey, Iesha, tell me this. Do you play sports?

IESHA: Yes.

HEMMER: Yes, what kind?

IESHA: Basketball.

HEMMER: Basketball. What about Tiesha, do you play basketball too?

TIESHA: Sometimes.

HEMMER: Yes. Do you guys play against each other? And if so, who wins?

IESHA: Me.

TIESHA: Me.

TURNER: That's a typical answer.

HEMMER: Is that the way it goes?

TIESHA: Yes.

HEMMER: Yes. I understand you guys also like some movies. Tiesha, what kind of movies do you like to go see?

TIESHA: Funny movies.

HEMMER: Yes. Would the common person ever know that these two girls were separated at the chest and the abdomen at a younger age?

TURNER: No. Not unless -- it's only a few signs. They have the chest area, which has -- you know, makes people notice and ask questions. But otherwise, if they wouldn't look real closely and just see them running around together, they wouldn't be able to tell.

HEMMER: Wow! Do they still have regular doctor appointments because...

TURNER: Yes, they do.

HEMMER: They do. And what sort of treatment do they still take on by doctors?

TURNER: Well, they just have a regular checkup. They have a cardiologist, and he checks on them. And they have a plastic surgeon, because they do have one more surgery in the future, which is just a chest reconstruction.

HEMMER: And how dangerous or delicate could that be?

TURNER: That could be, but not as dangerous as the separation.

HEMMER: Yes, it's so true.

TURNER: And we don't look for any problems, because there was not much damage in that area during the separation. So we are very optimistic.

HEMMER: Yes, good deal. What are you guys going to do today, Tiesha, Iesha? Are you guys going to go out and play, or what's happening there in Texas? About 150 degrees right now, isn't it?

TIESHA: Yes.

HEMMER: I don't think I'm going to get much more than that. Lark, thank you for taking the time with us...