Kendra and Maliyah Herrin were born conjoined on February 26, 2002, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Their parents, Erin and Jake, were overjoyed but faced a heartbreaking decision: attempt a risky separation or keep the girls conjoined.
The twins were connected at the abdomen and pelvis, sharing vital organs including a large intestine, liver, bladder, and one kidney. Doctors doubted they’d survive birth, and Erin was advised to terminate the pregnancy—but she refused.
As the girls grew, the issue of separation became unavoidable. Surgery offered them independence but came with high risk—especially since only one kidney was shared. It was decided that Kendra would keep the kidney, and Maliyah would later receive a transplant. However, they had to wait until age 4.
On August 7, 2006, a team of six surgeons successfully separated them. Maliyah underwent dialysis while awaiting a transplant, and Erin later donated her own kidney. Despite the uncertainty, Maliyah’s body accepted it.
Recovery was long and challenging. Both girls had to learn to walk with one leg and endure hours of bandage changes and physical therapy. In 2015, Maliyah’s body began rejecting the donated kidney, but in 2018, a new anonymous donor gave her another chance—this time, with no signs of rejection.
By 2022, the twins celebrated their 20th birthday. Maliyah graduated from Technical College with plans to pursue graphic design. Though separated physically, Kendra and Maliyah remain incredibly close, still supporting each other like they always have.
