Conjoined Twins Find a Life Apart (page 2 of 6)

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Images from this article

Video Clip of Miracle Conjoined Herrin Twins

Courtney Enjoys Reading to her Twin Sisters

Watch a video of Kendra and Maliyah enjoying life after separation.

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Photographed by Joanna B. Pinneo/Aurora

"Sometimes I miss being stuck to Kendra," says Maliyah (front). But it's fun to sleep in my own bed."

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Photographed by Joanna B. Pinneo/Aurora

"Because of what we've gone through with the girls, we're more optimistic about life," says Erin Herrin, here with husband Jake and their five children (from left): Justin, Kendra, Courtney, Austin, and Maliyah.

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Photographed by Joanna B. Pinneo/Aurora

Courtney reads to her sisters in the family's playroom, which has a ramp (left) for easy access and a slide (right) for fun.

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Photographed by Joanna B. Pinneo/Aurora

"Sometimes I miss being stuck to Kendra," says Maliyah (front). But it's fun to sleep in my own bed."

At the perinatologist's office, the Herrins learned that their twins were joined frontally at the abdomen and pelvis. They had two legs (each twin controlled one) and shared a liver and a large intestine. To deliver the girls, Erin would need a large vertical cesarean section, which could result in huge blood loss. The doctor told the couple that, because of the enormous complications, Erin would be risking her life to go ahead with the birth.

The Herrins' Mormon religion permits abortion in certain cases-when the fetus has defects that would prevent it from surviving beyond birth, for instance, or when the mother's health is in danger. But Erin said that was not what she wanted. So the perinatologist referred the couple to Rebecka Meyers, MD, chief of pediatric surgery at Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City. At their first meeting, Dr. Meyers told the Herrins their twins had strong vital signs and good odds of making it to term.

"Jake and I looked at each other and knew we had to go forward," Erin recalls. "There wasn't any doubt."

In her 26th week of pregnancy, Erin began hemorrhaging, and shortly afterward her water broke. Her doctors were able to prevent a miscarriage but kept her in the hospital on strict bed rest. Lying on her back day after day, she hardly dared to think beyond the babies' birth.

On February 26, 2002, Kendra and Maliyah were born by C-section, eight weeks premature. Together, they weighed six pounds four ounces. "They were beautiful," says Jake. "They just happened to be stuck together."

Too small to survive on their own, the twins were whisked off to the hospital's intensive care unit. Prematurity was far from their only problem. When they were three days old, tests showed that only one of the girls' three kidneys—the one on Kendra's side—was functional.

Should Everyone Read This? Yes! I vote for this story

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I really want to appreciate the parents, friends and family that stood by the girls all through. Reading this story has made me realised that God has put so much love into the lives of human beings. All we have to do is to dig deep and we all will find the love to make this earth a better place. I thank God for creating people like the girls' parents, friends, relatives and also the medical team that undertook the surgery. May God in His infinite love bless you all amen!

By Eareale, on 10/28/2008

This is so amazing, a very inspiring story for everyone. for all the girls future battles i pray for them and that God is by their side. God bless all of you and keep your heads high.

By cricket0628, on 09/18/2008

There's nothing impossible with the Lord, almighty God. All things possible. We need to trust and have faith on Him no matter happens. Problems and obstacles is not the reason to stop our meaningful lives and facing our problems squarely is a good recovery. No matter what happens, trust God with all your heart and mind. Erin and Jake is a rare parents in this world, and they save their twins because of their faith. It's a blessings and miracles happened in their lives. God Bless!

By doffande, on 09/13/2008

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