Born attached at the abdomen and sharing a kidney and two legs, conjoined twins Kendra and Maliyah Herrin have faced challenges that are beyond what most of us could ever imagine.
So what happened when their parents faced an unthinkable decision to separate them? How did the twins survive, and were they ever the same again?
This heart-wrenching decision is just the start of their journey, filled with courage, heartbreak, and hope. It’s an inspiring story of two sisters who have overcome the impossible, but at what cost?
Attached at the Abdomen, Twins Kendra and Maliyah Were Born in 2002
In a Salt Lake City hospital, two baby girls were born joined together at the abdomen. The twins, named Kendra and Maliyah Herrin, had a rare condition which meant they shared a pelvis, a kidney, and a liver. Despite the odds stacked against them, the Herrin twins defied all expectations by surviving birth and making it out of the womb. The doctors had warned Kendra and Maliyah’s parents that their chances of survival were slim.
Although Kendra and Maliyah miraculously survived birth, the reality of their condition left many wondering how much longer the twins could live; would they beat the odds, or would their time together be tragically cut short?
They Were Not Expected to Live Past 24 Hours
Of every 200,000 live births, only one results in conjoined twins, and many don’t survive. Yet, the Herrin twins made it through their first night, which increased their chances of survival. Despite the joy of their parents, the twins’ shared vital organs meant that the doctors predicted they wouldn’t make it past 24 hours. As the days went by, Kendra and Maliyah proved the medical experts wrong, but their parents soon faced an excruciating choice.
Would the twins continue to defy expectations, or was the end near? Surely they couldn’t continue healthy lives in this state, so how could their parents and doctors give them a chance at life?
The Ultimate Decision Had to Be Made
Conjoined twins Kendra and Maliyah Herrin spent their first few years of life literally inseparable, living every moment together. However, their shared organs posed severe medical complications that would worsen with time. Their parents, Jake and Erin, were faced with an impossible decision. Should they leave their daughters joined for life, risking regrets later on? Or should they undergo the risky procedure of separating the twins? It was a scary situation to be in.
Neither option seemed ideal, and Jake and Erin struggled with what to do next. With their daughters’ futures at stake, the Herrin family braced themselves for an uncertain road ahead.
Their Parents Were Conflicted on What to Do
Conjoined twins are a rarity, and the decision to separate them is not an easy one for any family. Despite advancements in medical technology, the Herrin family struggled to weigh the risks and benefits of surgery for four-year-old Kendra and Maliyah. Countless consultations with doctors and psychologists left the family searching for answers, but one thing ultimately made the decision a bit easier. They knew they couldn’t live their lives conjoined forever.
The Herrins took a leap of faith and opted for the risky separation surgery. Their decision would alter the twins’ lives forever, but it was a necessary one for the Herrin family to make.
Separating the Twins Could Be Fatal
Separating conjoined twins is a complex and risky procedure, and for Kendra and Maliyah Herrin, sharing multiple organs made the decision even more difficult. The girls shared a single kidney, a condition that significantly threatened their lives. Kendra spoke candidly about the risks on the twins’ YouTube channel, emphasizing the danger of having one kidney to support two people. Despite these challenges, the Herrin family knew separating the girls was necessary for their long-term health and independence.
The decision to undergo the operation was not easy, but in the end, it was worth it for the twins’ chance at a brighter future. Or was it?
How Do You Explain to Little Kids That They Are About to Be Cut Apart
The Herrin twins were just toddlers when their parents had to explain to them that they would undergo a surgery to be separated. Maliyah and Kendra tried to comprehend what the procedure would entail, but they were too young to fully understand the risks involved; they were so small after all. As Kendra recounted on their YouTube channel, their parents reassured them that everything would be alright and referred to the surgery as “cut-apart day.”
It was a difficult conversation to have, but the girls would soon face an even tougher road ahead as they prepared for the separation surgery.
Preparing for the Life-Altering Surgery
The girl’s parents wanted to ensure their daughters were adequately prepared before they entered that hospital for life-changing surgery. The Herrin sisters even shared, “We had our own playroom, we had dolls…We also got nurse badges too.” It was clear the staff at the hospital, their nurses, and their parents were doing their best to make them feel comfortable. But the outcome of the surgery was ultimately unknown until the day it happened.
All their parents wanted was for the girls to have good memories to think of leading up to the days of their surgery, especially considering that it could be their last days together.
Their Skin Had to Be Stretched Every Week
Although much mental preparation was necessary before this surgery, the medical preparation was just as intense. The girls shared bodies, which meant they shared skin. Before doctors could separate them, they had to ensure their bodies could handle it. “Every week, we would get tissue expanders which were, like, little balloons that you get placed under the skin so that the skin stretches so that we would have enough skin to get closed.”
This was a painful part of the process, and although the girls were so young, Kendra and Maliyah say they remember this sensation. Even with all this preparation, their lives weren’t guaranteed.
Getting Ready for the Worst-Case Scenario
When faced with the daunting prospect of their conjoined twins’ surgery, the parents did what any loving parents would do – they showered their children with even more love and quality family time. Kendra shared that the week leading up to the operation was the best they’d ever had, filled with fun family outings to the zoo and the pool. The goal was to create lasting memories in case the worst happened.
And finally, the fateful day arrived – the day the girls would be separated, and the family’s world would change forever.
Surgery Day Arrived and Everyone Was Nervous
A week before their surgery, the girls were brought to the hospital to get comfortable in their room and for the medical team to get to know them. As the days passed, the family couldn’t shake off the overwhelming anxiety and fear. Finally, the day arrived – “Cut Apart Day.” Emotions ran high as they wheeled the twins toward the surgery room. Tears flowed freely as the family braced themselves for what lay ahead.
It was a day that would either bid farewell forever to their beloved daughters or welcome a new chapter in their lives.
It Was Finally Time for the Girls to Be Separated
As the time arrived for the twins to undergo their traumatic surgery, the question of how to prepare them weighed heavily on the Herrin parents’ minds. In a heartwarming twist, they organized a scavenger hunt around the hospital, leading the girls to the operating room. Kendra shared the story on the twins’ YouTube channel, revealing how they had no idea what was happening until they reached the final number and were whisked away into surgery.
The family exchanged final goodbyes and prayers, and Jake and Erin gave their daughters tender kisses as they were wheeled past the swinging doors and into the operating room.
A Tough 26 Hours Later
The girls shared that for them, it felt like they were only gone for one hour during the surgery; it actually lasted an excruciating 26 hours. Six skilled surgeons and 25 support staff worked tirelessly to separate the twins at the torso, leaving them each with one leg. The post-surgery period was equally daunting, as the girls had to spend three months in the hospital to ensure a successful outcome and long-term health.
The road to recovery was scary, but the Herrin family was fortunate to have an incredible support network during this challenging time. However, they didn’t know how the girls would heal.
Their Story Was Making News and People Were Sending Them Fan Mail
The story of the Herrin twins tugged at the heartstrings of many in Salt Lake City and beyond, whether they knew the girls personally or had been following their story. “We got fan mail while we were in the hospital. We still have some of it,” Maliyah shared. Throughout their hospital stay, the twins were visited by loved ones, and upon their release, they were welcomed home with a big celebration.
But this wasn’t fully over for Maliyah; in fact, another intense journey was about to start.
Maliyah Was Left Without a Kidney
Due to having only one kidney shared between them, the medical team had to make a difficult decision. Kendra received the kidney, and Maliyah went on dialysis for nine months until her mother donated her kidney. All seemed to be going well for her for years Until suddenly, a decade later, Maliyah’s body began rejecting her mom’s kidney. She had to return to dialysis, and the future once again looked unclear.
It remained uncertain how Maliyah’s condition would progress and how long she would have to undergo this treatment, but one thing was known, she needed another kidney and fast.
An Anonymous Kidney Donor Saved Maliyah’s Life
Maliyah had to endure dialysis for another 18 months while also being on a waitlist for organ donations. Despite the challenges, she remained positive and strong. Her mother, Erin Herrin, expressed admiration for her daughter’s resilience, noting that Maliyah coped with the loss of friends who also had to undergo dialysis. After a long wait, a generous anonymous donor provided a kidney, allowing Maliyah to stop dialysis and get another shot at life finally.
But even with the possibility of another kidney transplant in the near future, there were still uncertainties and risks involved. And only time would tell if her body would reject this kidney also.
