Kendra and Maliyah Herrin were four years old when they made global headlines.
They were born conjoined in Salt Lake City, Utah, but, after years of deliberating, their parents agreed to have them surgically separated in an unprecedented operation that would give them independence and the chance of a longer life but carried a risk of death.
The 26-hour operation was successful, left them each with one leg, and left Kendra with their only kidney, leaving Maliyah to undergo a transplant.
Doctors feared they wouldn’t survive.
But now they are 17, thriving, and a new BBC Three documentary shows them going about their daily lives like any other teenager.
Thriving: Kendra and Maliyah turned 17 in February, 13 years after their ‘cut apart’ day
Kendra (left) and Maliyah (right) on their first day of school last fall, when they started as juniors
At birth, they weren’t expected to survive because they shared an abdomen, pelvis, liver, kidney, large intestine and two legs
‘When people first hear our story, they like to ask a lot of questions – but simply we feel like we’re the same as everybody else, we just have a few things that are a little different,’ they said.
At birth, they weren’t expected to survive because they shared an abdomen, pelvis, liver, kidney, large intestine and two legs.
They did, prompting the natural question of separation surgery.
Doctors, at the time, had never separated twins with just one kidney. It required months of research and preparation.
In the end, it went smoothly – they were out of the hospital within six weeks, though they had to endure arduous spine-straightening and plenty of medical visits for years.
After years of deliberating, their parents Erin and Jake (pictured) agreed to have them surgically separated in an unprecedented operation that would give them independence and the chance of a longer life but carried a risk of death
Doctors, at the time, had never separated twins with just one kidney. It required months of research and preparation
The 26-hour operation was successful, left them each with one leg
The doctors pictured performing the surgery in August 2006
They left Kendra with their only kidney, leaving Maliyah to undergo a transplant
Kendra Herrin pictured at the Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, following surgery to separate her from Maliyah
But they take everything in their stride, adapting to strollers and crawling so they can experience everything they want to.
The girls are friendly, relaxed and enthusiastic.
They live with their parents, older sister, and younger twin brothers, but they spend most of their time together.
They love their schoolwork, and sharing their story, which is something of a full-time job with their YouTube channel, blog and Instagram, which respectively have thousands of followers.
Speaking to the BBC, they say they understand when kids gawk at them, but they do feel uncomfortable when adults give them funny looks.
‘We’re kind of like… it’s strange. They should know not to,’ they said.
Kendra and Maliyah were studying online for years, which was particularly important for Maliyah in the last couple of years as she underwent a second kidney transplant.
They live with their parents, older sister, and younger twin brothers (pictured)
She got her first kidney from their mom at the age of five, and it lasted 10 years.
But at 15, her body started to reject it, and she had to go on dialysis.
After a year-and-a-half on the waiting list, an anonymous donor came through, and Maliyah underwent surgery.
Now, almost a year on, Maliyah is in good health, and they have decided to go to public school to mingle with other kids their age.
One of their friends and classmates, Anabelle, told the BBC: ‘They have taught me so much about going through trials and accepting them with grace and bravery.’