Kendra and Maliyah Herrin entered the world on February 26, 2002, born in Salt Lake City, Utah, as rare conjoined twins. The sisters shared many vital organs, including a large intestine, bladder, liver, a single kidney, and two legs between them.
Their parents, Erin and Jake Herrin, faced a life-changing decision early on, as doctors warned the twins did not have the organs necessary to survive individually outside the womb. Abortion was even suggested, but their mother refused, already deeply connected to her daughters.
As the girls grew, the Herrins grappled with the difficult choice to separate them, aiming to give each twin an independent life despite the risks. Kendra retained their shared kidney post-surgery, while Maliyah needed a kidney transplant—something only possible after waiting until she was older.
On August 7, 2006, after years of careful planning and waiting until the girls were four and a half, six surgeons performed an 18-hour separation procedure. Miraculously, both twins survived and began intensive rehabilitation, learning to walk with the support of crutches and adjusting to their individual bodies.
Maliyah underwent dialysis and received a kidney transplant from their mother in 2007. Though the kidney lasted a decade, it began to fail in 2015, leading to another transplant in 2018 from an anonymous donor. So far, the new kidney is functioning well.
Today, Kendra and Maliyah are thriving 20-year-olds with unique goals—Kendra enjoys an outgoing personality, while Maliyah aims for a career in graphic design. Their journey has been full of challenges, but through it all, their determination and close sisterly bond have inspired many worldwide.
