Kendra and Maliyah Herrin, now 17, were born conjoined—sharing a pelvis, kidney, and liver—and were separated at age 4 in a groundbreaking 26-hour surgery. Since then, they’ve lived full lives, despite being frequently stared at and photographed. “You’re normal,” Kendra says. “If I just took a picture of you, would you be OK with it? No, you would not!”

The girls face curiosity openly. “Don’t be afraid to talk to someone,” Kendra advises. “Ask them if it’s OK to ask what happened. But be respectful about it.” Maliyah adds simply, “Be nice.” They prefer questions over stares and hope others will treat people with disabilities with kindness and inclusion.

They’ve endured numerous surgeries—including kidney and back operations—yet maintain humor about it all. “Rod replacements are the least of our problem surgeries,” Kendra says.The twins are now stepping into adulthood. Kendra, a certified phlebotomist, is driving; Maliyah is still exploring her path. Both are involved in awareness projects like Orange Socks and Stand Up for Kindness.Reflecting on their journey, they embrace their future with hope and resilience. As Kendra puts it: “You don’t know their situation, so be kind.”