Three weeks ago the girls went in for the surgery and this last week Kendra was put into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) following surgery for a blocked bowel, but was back in the same bed with her sister a day later. While there are better days than others, the twins' health continues to improve.
Sunday night the twins were a little sick to their stomachs, said Jake Herrin, father to the girls, but Monday was a good day for the two of them. "They were arguing over which movie to watch," he said.
Jake lived in North Salt Lake all through his high school years. When he married his wife Erin the two moved to West Jordan. A couple of years ago the family moved back to North Salt Lake to be nearer to the hospital and closer to Jake's mother who had recently lost her husband.
The twins have spent the last couple of years in a preschool in Bountiful.
Their oldest daughter, Courtney, was attending Or-chard Elementary but recently transferred to Legacy Prep. If there are proper accommodations at the Legacy Prep charter school the twins will also attend the school when the time comes.
"We love the area. We have nice neighbors," said Jake. For the past month the family has had three meals a week delivered to their home by members of their local LDS ward.
Other neighbors have mowed the Herrins' lawn and cleaned their home.
Gifts from around the world have also been sent to the family. This weekend Jake said he organized the room full of gifts they had been given.
"We've received lots of letters, gifts, toys, books, stickers, stuffed animals and blankets," said Jake.
After Kendra mentioned she wanted a boxer on a 20/20 interview Jake said the family had two offers for boxer puppies.
The family accepted one of the puppies which will arrive at their home in the next two weeks. Jake hopes the girls will be home by then.
"It's been really exhausting," he said. "But it's been a very good experience for our family because it has brought us all very close together."
Jake works as an IT manager at a computer system for Smith's Power Products. Considering the situation, the company has allowed him to work from home half the day and go into work half the day.
He said the family is worn out and ready for the twins to come home.
While the cost will mount somewhere into the millions, Jake said Primary Children's hospital and their insurance will help them foot the cost of having the twins separated.
Besides Kendra's recent surgery the twins have had few complications.
However, the twins are still on feeding tubes and will not be able to return home until they are strong enough to go without the tubes.
Maliyah will also need to have a regulated dialysis schedule before she returns home.
"They really have to do some serious healing before they go back home," said Bonnie Midget, the hospital spokesperson.
sclarke@davisclipper.com
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