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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Formerly conjoined twin Maliyah Herrin's has been discharged from the hospital, less than three weeks after a kidney transplant, Primary Children's Medical Center said.
"She went home today in good condition," hospital spokeswoman Bonnie Midget said Saturday.
Maliyah's mother, Erin Herrin, donated her right kidney to the 5-year-old in a seven-hour operation on April 3.
Born fused at the torso, Maliyah and her sister, Kendra, were separated in August. While surgeons divided some of their shared organs, Kendra kept the one functioning kidney. Maliyah had dialysis treatments until doctors determined she was ready for the transplant.
Erin Herrin was released from the hospital April 8. Maliyah remained in the hospital longer to heal from the transplant and so doctors could fine-tune the dose of immunosuppressant medicine Maliyah will always need to avoid organ rejection, Midget said.
Erin and Jake Herrin are also the parents of Courtney, 7, and twin boys Justin and Austin, not quite 2.
Doctors believe the kidney transplant will be the last major surgery of Maliyah's childhood.
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Information from: Deseret Morning News, http://www.deseretnews.com
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
