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.
