When Erin and Jake Herrin had their girls Kendra and Maliyah in 2002, they were born together. The twins were born in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were a rare pair of combined Ischiopagus/Omphalopagus twins who shared a kidney, liver, and bladder, among other important systems.
The twins’ health made things very hard for their parents, who had to make the hard choice of whether to separate them. Doctors said the surgery was very dangerous and there was a good chance that one or both of the twins would die.
Even though the odds were against them, Erin and Jake decided to go through with the surgery because they wanted to give their girls a better chance at living. Six very skilled doctors worked together to do the surgery on August 7, 2006.
Luckily, both twins made it through the long and difficult surgery. However, it took a long time and was very hard for them to get better. Both girls had to have their bandages changed often, and Maliyah needed special care and dialysis sessions.
In a strange turn of events, Erin found out that her kidneys would work with Maliyah’s. The transfer went well, and Maliyah’s body took in the new kidney.
Kendra and Maliyah are now 17 years old and live in Salt Lake City. They are getting along great. Even though each of them only has one leg, they have learnt to live on their own. Their bond as sisters is still strong, and they still help and care for each other.
Their story shows how strong love, strength, and drive can be. Kendra and Maliyah were given a second chance at life when Erin and Jake made the brave choice to separate their conjoined twins. Their bond as sisters continues to inspire and boost everyone who knows them.
