Request your copy today!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Aren't they called Siamese Twins?
- Did they sleep at the same time or wake each other up?
- Did they cry at the same time?
- What causes twins to be conjoined?
- When one gets hurt did the other one feel it?
- Will they ever be separated?
- What organs/body parts did they share?
- Will they be able to have children of their own?
- How is it like now that they are separated?
- You have 2 sets of twins?!? Do twins run in your family? Did you use fertility?
- Is there any way we can help or donate?
Aren't they called Siamese Twins?
No, they are not from Siam. Siam is the country now known as Thailand. Eng and Chang Bunker first coined the term "Siamese Twins" because they were from Siam and were connected by about 6 inches of skin on their abdomen. The proper term is conjoined twins.
Back to Top
Did they sleep at the same time or wake each other up?
Yes and No. Just like if you were sleeping next to someone else you might fall asleep and wake up before them or after them and you could wake them up if you bothered them. It's no different than that.
Back to Top
Did they cry at the same time?
Sometimes. They both might cry if you scare them. Or if one's tired, she might cry, but her sister won't. It's no different than two separate girls.
Back to Top
What causes twins to be conjoined?
When an egg is fertilized, it will sometimes split, resulting in identical twins. If the egg starts to split and doesn't finish, it will result in conjoined twins. This happens in 1 in every 200 sets of identical twins and in 1 in every 75,000 to 100,000 births, so it is pretty rare, but not as rare as you would think.
Back to Top
When one got hurt would the other one feel it?
No, they had completely separate nervous systems. However, if you touched them where they were joined, there were areas where they both had nerves, so they both could potentially have felt it.
Back to Top
Will they ever be separated?
Kendra and Maliyah were separated August 7, 2006 in a surgery that lasted 26 hours.
Back to Top
What organs/body parts did they share?
They shared an abdomen, pelvis, liver, kidney, large intestine and two legs (each controls one).
Back to Top
Will they be able to have children of their own?
They each have everything they need to technically be able to bear their own children, but we won't know for sure until they are much older. For K&M's privacy, we will not give any other details.
Back to Top
How is it like now that they are separated?
They each have 1 leg and we will look at the possibility of them walking with a combination of crutches and a prosthetic leg. Maliyah doesn't have a kidney, so she will be on dialysis until she is recovered enough from the separation to receive a transplant. They will most likely have several reconstructive surgeries further down the road as well.
Back to Top
You have 2 sets of twins?!? Do twins run in your family? Did you use fertility?
Yes, we have 2 sets of twins, Kendra & Maliyah (identical) and Justin & Austin (fraternal). Fraternal twins run in the maternal line and we don't know of any in Erin's maternal line. Identical twins don't run in families they just happen. We did not use any fertility drugs for any of our children. We have the exact opposite problem, we make too many kids. And, yes, we are done having children.
Is there any way we can help or donate?
We have great insurance so most of the medical costs are taken care of, but if you would like to help out we ask that you donate to the Make-a-Wish Foundation or Primary Children's Medical Center, their websites are under "Links". If you would like to donate to Kendra & Maliyah for their ongoing care, activities, college, etc. and to keep this website going, you are welcome to send a donation through Paypal: