These Siamese twins were joined at the abdomen, and together they had only two legs, one kidney, and a shared liver. When they were 4 years old, doctors decided to separate them. The operation lasted 26 hours, but each got her own body.
Kendra and Malia Herrin were born Siamese twins – their bodies were joined at the abdomen, and together they had only two legs, one kidney, and a shared liver. Doctors immediately warned the parents: the separation would not just be difficult – it would be dangerous, almost impossible. But the parents did not give up. For many months they consulted with leading surgeons, listened to forecasts, and analyzed the risks. The decision was agonizing, but they realized: if they didn’t try, their daughters would not have a chance for a normal life.
When the girls turned four, a team of dozens of doctors, surgeons, and anesthesiologists began the operation. The operation lasted almost 26 hours. And then – success! Two little lives now existed separately. The first months after the operation were terrible. The girls learned to exist anew – first to sit, then to crawl, and then to walk with prostheses, because each had only one leg left. They had to undergo several more operations, including a kidney transplant, but Malia and Kendra turned out to be real fighters.
Today, 18 years after the fateful operation, the sisters live a rich and vibrant life. They not only coped with the challenges, but also inspire thousands of people with their story. Kendra found solace in art – brushes and paints became her way of expressing emotions, and later she mastered digital design. Malia became interested in music, sang in the school choir, and then picked up a guitar and eagerly learned to play her favorite melodies.