After 86 days in the hospital, formerly conjoined twins Kendra and Maliyah Herrin left Primary Children's Medical Center Sept. 17.
"We've been dreaming of this day for a long time," said the twin's father, Jake Herrin, during a press conference. "This is a day we've been waiting for for the last four to five years. Just to have them separated and safe."
Kendra Deene and Maliyah Mae Herrin, 4-year-old daughters of Brother Herrin and his wife, Erin Herrin, of North Salt Lake, Utah, were born Feb. 26, 2002. The Ischiopagus/Omphalopagus conjoined twins shared an abdomen, pelvis, liver, kidney, large intestine and two legs, with each controlling one.
In landmark surgery, which lasted 26 hours and garnered international attention, Kendra and Maliyah were separated Aug. 7 — the first surgery of its kind performed on twins that shared a single kidney.
Doctors separated their bodies and liver, and reconstructed their divided pelvis. Each girl kept one leg and Kendra kept the kidney, which was in her body. In coming months, Sister Herrin hopes to donate a kidney to Maliyah, who is currently on dialysis. (Please see earlier reports in the Church News, on Aug. 19 and Sept. 9, 2006.
After nearly three months in the hospital, in preparation for and recovery from the surgery, the girls returned home to a huge party. Neighbors, friends and family waited outside the Herrin's home with balloons — purple for Kendra, yellow for Maliyah and Mylar Dora the Explorer for both of them — and a giant "Welcome Home" banner.
The twins wanted to see their new beds, according to the family web site. Kendra played her computer and Maliyah went on a walk in the stroller. Then big sister Courtney pulled Kendra in the wagon and both girls played with their baby brothers, 1-year-old twins Justin and Austin.
"It's so wonderful to be back together as a family again," said Brother Herrin. "It sure is a lot of work though, but it's so well worth it."
Sister Herrin said they're looking forward to the family being together at home, where she thinks the girls will recover faster. "They will want to do more," she said. "It will coax them to move around."
The Herrins will provide primary care for their daughters now that they are home. In addition, Maliyah has started outpatient dialysis three times a week. The girls will also make weekly visits back to the hospital and will need physical therapy. Each will also need additional reconstructive surgeries.
The family said they are up for future challenges.
"Thank you everyone for praying for us," Brother Herrin wrote on the family web site. "We know every one of the prayers have been heard and we appreciate all the support we have gotten. This has been an amazing experience. It has brought us even closer as a family and while it has been very tough, it has taught us so much. We are so glad that we were able to touch as many lives as we have. We know we still have a long way to go with their recovery and another surgery, but this is a big step. Thanks again to everyone, this will forever be one of the most memorable events of all of our lives and I hope we never forget all the wonderful experiences we've had going through it."
E-mail to: sarah@desnews.com
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