Utah Conjoined Twins Bring Family Joy, Challenges

Utah Conjoined Twins Bring Family Joy, Challenges


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Ed Yeates reportingThe Utah parents of conjoined twin girls are selling their home in West Jordan to move closer to their extended family - and a Salt Lake hospital which is monitoring their growth.

Erin and Jake Herrin love, care and laugh with their conjoined daughters - who are now almost two years old.

JAKE HERRIN, FATHER: "SOMETIMES ONE WANTS TO GO TO SLEEP BUT THE OTHER ONE WANTS TO STAY UP AND PLAY SO WE'LL HEAR CRYING FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS AFTER WE PUT EM TO BED."

Though not conjoined at the head, separation is still extremely risky. Kendra and Maliyah share a pelvis and a fused liver - although the liver could be split. They also share a kidney - so one girl would need a transplant. The twins are also supported by only two legs.

ERIN HERRIN, MOTHER: "KENDRA TAKES OVER THE MOBILITY FOR THEM AND MALIYAH IS THE EATER FOR EM EVEN THOUGH SHE'S THINNER THAN THE OTHER ONE."

ED YEATES, SCIENCE SPECIALIST: "ERIN AND JAKE HAVE HAD SPECIAL EQUIPMENT DESIGNED FOR THE TWINS, INCLUDING A SPECIAL HIGH CHAIR, THIS JUMPER SEAT AND A CAR SEAT."

Doctors at Primary Children's Hospital are waiting until the twins get bigger and older before considering separation. But the Herrin's have mixed emotions.

BOTH: "IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO FIVE OR EVEN - WE'RE HOPING NEVER. I'M HOPING NEVER."

The Herrin's say the twins have touched not only their lives - their family - but anybody who meets them.

ERIN HERRIN: "WHEN I'M GOING INTO A STORE - THEY'LL TURN AROUND AND FOLLOW ME TO WHERE I'M GOING UNTIL I STOP - JUST TO SAY HOW BEAUTIFUL THEY ARE OR JUST TO MEET THEM."

JAKE HERRIN: "IT MAKES US LOOK AT LIFE A LOT DIFFERENTLY NOW - REALIZING WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN LIFE AND REALLY WHAT'S NOT IMPORTANT."

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