Herrin twins healthy, hungry and alert

Aug 15 2006

The conjoined 4 year old twins separated last week after lengthy surgery are said to be healthy, hungry and alert, but apparently are not aware they have been separated.

Kendra and Maliyah Herrin who endured marathon 26-hour surgery last week, were born joined at mid-torso and shared a liver, kidney, bladders and a single pelvis.

They had only two legs, each one controlled by one girl.

Kendra has retained the only kidney while Maliyah has been placed on dialysis until she is ready to receive a kidney transplant from mother, Erin Herrin.

The twins from North Salt Lake are now breathing independently but remain in a serious but stable condition and are making steady progress.

They are expected to remain at Primary Children's Medical Center for four to six weeks.

Their parents Erin and Jake Herrin say the twins are awake intermittently, reaching for one another and watching one another in a mirror.

The twins are recovering in separate beds about three feet apart and the main concern at present is their wounds, staving off infections and pneumonia.

The blonde, blue-eyed girls catch a glimpse of each other by the use of a mirror held by their parents.