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When Hearts Conjoin
In 2006, the world stopped to watch as the media reported on the events taking place in Salt Lake City, Utah. Four-year-old conjoined twins underwent a twenty-five hour surgery to separate their lower bodies. Even amid today's high tech hospitals and pocedures, the birth of conjoined twins is highly risky and against most doctors' recommendations. The successful separation of conjoined twins can only be called a miracle. But all miracles have a story.
189 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2009
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April 18, 2009
I interviewed the ghostwriter, Lu Ann Staheli, below!
Many books are ghostwritten—especially those you see with "celebrity authors". Some ghostwriters are acknowledged inside the pages (i.e. Glenn Beck’s book The Christmas Sweater had two ghostwriters). Others are acknowledged on the cover such as When Hearts Conjoin, by Erin Herrin with Lu Ann Staheli. Below is an interview with Lu Ann Staheli, who was happy to share her journey of writing the story of Herrin family and their conjoined twins who were successfully separated.
1. From a ghostwriter’s standpoint, how do you begin a project like this?
LU ANN: "Of course, because I live in Utah where the Herrins twins were born, I had heard some of their story on the local news so I was at least familiar with who they were and some of what the girls had gone through in their short lives. When I first heard they were doing a book I thought, “Wow! What a great project. I wish that I could have written it.” As things worked out, the universe must have read my mind because last August I found myself in that very position. I was given a book outline, and few sample chapter pages, but I was told that Erin, the girls’ mother, didn’t feel the tone of what had been written was right. She wanted a more personal story instead of sounding like a magazine article. So I set to work, drafting a single chapter to get a feel for the project, choosing to write the book more like one might write a novel, using a first person narrative voice, and that voice had to be Erin’s. I hadn’t met Erin yet when I wrote that first chapter, but we sent it off to her, she loved it, and we were on our way. I met with her in October just to chat. It was a good experience because I was able to hear her true voice, begin to understand a little more about her, and to see first-hand her interaction and relationship with the girls, their sister Courtney, and her husband, Jake. The boys were not at home the day I visited. After that meeting, the real work began."
2. When creating the chapters and the flow of the book, how did you decide what information to use and what not to use?
LU ANN: "We didn’t want this book to turn into a medical procedural, yet we knew we had to maintain the story’s reason to be told. Erin wanted to insure that nothing in the book would ever delve too deeply into the girls’ privacy, so I had to weigh the information I discovered against making sure we had an accurate portrail of events, yet keeping the book more about the emotion instead of the medicine. Since we wanted to stay in Erin’s point of view, it was important to only share what she experienced, felt, and understood. There were many times I just tried to put myself in her place as I worked on the draft and let my own emotions and questions surface. The interesting thing was when I sent her the drafts she would often reply, 'That’s exactly how I felt!'"
3. The mother of the conjoined twins, Erin Herrin, is listed as a co-author. How did the writing relationship work between the both of you?
LU ANN: "After I met with Erin, I came home and started a draft of the book in earnest. A flurry of emails went back and forth between the two of us, details were added, I did online research to support what I was writing, Erin corrected things I hadn’t gotten quite right, sent me tidbits she had remembered, and answered my million questions, until at last we had it right. Sometimes she and I were online at the same time, so answers came quickly. Other times, I had to just write through a section and wait for her response. That meant I had to do rewrites a little more often on those sections, but as a writer, I think we all understand the need to just get words on the page and worry about revision and researching later."
4. What type of research did you find yourself doing to flesh out details?
LU ANN: "I did a lot of reading about conjoined twins in general, but mostly about Kendra and Maliyah. You’d be amazed at how much is really out there about these two little girls. Jake runs a website for them as well, and I watched several video clips of news reports about their surgery. I found online articles about the girls that even Erin didn’t know were available. I also had to learn about medical procedures and equipment. My husband is an LPN, so I asked him a lot of questions and he was able to explain things to me pretty well. Since I’ve never given birth to a child, I relied on my friends to tell me details about pregnancy, ultrasounds, labor, and nursing. Sometimes I think I heard more than I ever wanted to know."
5. When ghostwriting, what are some of the challenges you faced? And what aspects were easier than you thought?
LU ANN: "Originally I wanted to tell the story completely in chronological order, but I realized that the hook of this story was the girls, and although the family history played a key role, we needed to start with a dramatic moment, so I had to take their life story and organize it into a plot, just like I would for a novel or screenplay, a process I was already familiar with. I reviewed the chapter outline they had given me, and decided where the real story was found, to insure this didn’t become just a travelogue of events. I worried that Erin wouldn’t agree with me at first, but as the story started to come together and she could review the pages, she relaxed and felt good about where the book was headed. Probably the most difficult thing about this book was that Erin had tried so hard to shut out all the fears and bad memories from the past that she had almost blocked out some of the very details we needed to make this story alive enough to touch the hearts of the readers. Sometimes getting the chronological order just right, or remembering which doctor played what role, or sorting through details was confusing, but we hope anyone who finds an error will forgive us, knowing that revisiting this time in her life and the lives of the girls was not always an easy thing for Erin to do."
6. What types of agreements or contracts were made between you, as the writer, and the Herrin family, as the story source?
LU ANN: "I was originally approached to do this book as a straight ghost-writer, which means I wouldn’t have had my name on it at all. However, as the book progressed, and as Erin and I got to know each other via email and our in-person meeting, we both came to realize how important it was to work as equals on this project. She couldn’t do the book without me, and I couldn’t write her story without her. Erin’s original contract was with Richard Paul Evans as the publisher, and it’s through his company that all of us are being paid, so we came to an agreement that Erin and I would share the writing credits. The girls have their own share of royalties for their trust fund, so everyone wins. Erin and I have also talked about working together on a screenplay for a movie-of-the week based on the book, so that may come about in the future as well."
7. Most writers don’t have a hard time to write their own books, let alone one for someone else. How did you manage this project with your own personal projects?
LU ANN: "People often ask me how I manage to do all that I do at any given time. I don’t know. I’m a workaholic? I am always busy on something, and I have a husband who doesn’t mind cleaning house, cooking meals, shopping, and running kids around from this thing to that. (Well, let’s say he doesn’t always mind.) Because I’m an English teacher, there are times when my students are reading or writing that I can too. I don’t watch much television, and I’m usually in my home office for at least a few hours each day. I’ve gotten good at writing fast and using little pieces of time to reach my goals, although sometimes a favorite project gets set aside for something with a more immediate return. As a newspaper columnist, I learned how to write a 500 word piece from scratch to final draft form in under an hour. I’m also great at working on multiple projects at the same time, a talent that certainly came in handy as I wrote When Hearts Conjoin at the same time that I finished the screenplay for Seasons of Salvation."
Many books are ghostwritten—especially those you see with "celebrity authors". Some ghostwriters are acknowledged inside the pages (i.e. Glenn Beck’s book The Christmas Sweater had two ghostwriters). Others are acknowledged on the cover such as When Hearts Conjoin, by Erin Herrin with Lu Ann Staheli. Below is an interview with Lu Ann Staheli, who was happy to share her journey of writing the story of Herrin family and their conjoined twins who were successfully separated.
1. From a ghostwriter’s standpoint, how do you begin a project like this?
LU ANN: "Of course, because I live in Utah where the Herrins twins were born, I had heard some of their story on the local news so I was at least familiar with who they were and some of what the girls had gone through in their short lives. When I first heard they were doing a book I thought, “Wow! What a great project. I wish that I could have written it.” As things worked out, the universe must have read my mind because last August I found myself in that very position. I was given a book outline, and few sample chapter pages, but I was told that Erin, the girls’ mother, didn’t feel the tone of what had been written was right. She wanted a more personal story instead of sounding like a magazine article. So I set to work, drafting a single chapter to get a feel for the project, choosing to write the book more like one might write a novel, using a first person narrative voice, and that voice had to be Erin’s. I hadn’t met Erin yet when I wrote that first chapter, but we sent it off to her, she loved it, and we were on our way. I met with her in October just to chat. It was a good experience because I was able to hear her true voice, begin to understand a little more about her, and to see first-hand her interaction and relationship with the girls, their sister Courtney, and her husband, Jake. The boys were not at home the day I visited. After that meeting, the real work began."
2. When creating the chapters and the flow of the book, how did you decide what information to use and what not to use?
LU ANN: "We didn’t want this book to turn into a medical procedural, yet we knew we had to maintain the story’s reason to be told. Erin wanted to insure that nothing in the book would ever delve too deeply into the girls’ privacy, so I had to weigh the information I discovered against making sure we had an accurate portrail of events, yet keeping the book more about the emotion instead of the medicine. Since we wanted to stay in Erin’s point of view, it was important to only share what she experienced, felt, and understood. There were many times I just tried to put myself in her place as I worked on the draft and let my own emotions and questions surface. The interesting thing was when I sent her the drafts she would often reply, 'That’s exactly how I felt!'"
3. The mother of the conjoined twins, Erin Herrin, is listed as a co-author. How did the writing relationship work between the both of you?
LU ANN: "After I met with Erin, I came home and started a draft of the book in earnest. A flurry of emails went back and forth between the two of us, details were added, I did online research to support what I was writing, Erin corrected things I hadn’t gotten quite right, sent me tidbits she had remembered, and answered my million questions, until at last we had it right. Sometimes she and I were online at the same time, so answers came quickly. Other times, I had to just write through a section and wait for her response. That meant I had to do rewrites a little more often on those sections, but as a writer, I think we all understand the need to just get words on the page and worry about revision and researching later."
4. What type of research did you find yourself doing to flesh out details?
LU ANN: "I did a lot of reading about conjoined twins in general, but mostly about Kendra and Maliyah. You’d be amazed at how much is really out there about these two little girls. Jake runs a website for them as well, and I watched several video clips of news reports about their surgery. I found online articles about the girls that even Erin didn’t know were available. I also had to learn about medical procedures and equipment. My husband is an LPN, so I asked him a lot of questions and he was able to explain things to me pretty well. Since I’ve never given birth to a child, I relied on my friends to tell me details about pregnancy, ultrasounds, labor, and nursing. Sometimes I think I heard more than I ever wanted to know."
5. When ghostwriting, what are some of the challenges you faced? And what aspects were easier than you thought?
LU ANN: "Originally I wanted to tell the story completely in chronological order, but I realized that the hook of this story was the girls, and although the family history played a key role, we needed to start with a dramatic moment, so I had to take their life story and organize it into a plot, just like I would for a novel or screenplay, a process I was already familiar with. I reviewed the chapter outline they had given me, and decided where the real story was found, to insure this didn’t become just a travelogue of events. I worried that Erin wouldn’t agree with me at first, but as the story started to come together and she could review the pages, she relaxed and felt good about where the book was headed. Probably the most difficult thing about this book was that Erin had tried so hard to shut out all the fears and bad memories from the past that she had almost blocked out some of the very details we needed to make this story alive enough to touch the hearts of the readers. Sometimes getting the chronological order just right, or remembering which doctor played what role, or sorting through details was confusing, but we hope anyone who finds an error will forgive us, knowing that revisiting this time in her life and the lives of the girls was not always an easy thing for Erin to do."
6. What types of agreements or contracts were made between you, as the writer, and the Herrin family, as the story source?
LU ANN: "I was originally approached to do this book as a straight ghost-writer, which means I wouldn’t have had my name on it at all. However, as the book progressed, and as Erin and I got to know each other via email and our in-person meeting, we both came to realize how important it was to work as equals on this project. She couldn’t do the book without me, and I couldn’t write her story without her. Erin’s original contract was with Richard Paul Evans as the publisher, and it’s through his company that all of us are being paid, so we came to an agreement that Erin and I would share the writing credits. The girls have their own share of royalties for their trust fund, so everyone wins. Erin and I have also talked about working together on a screenplay for a movie-of-the week based on the book, so that may come about in the future as well."
7. Most writers don’t have a hard time to write their own books, let alone one for someone else. How did you manage this project with your own personal projects?
LU ANN: "People often ask me how I manage to do all that I do at any given time. I don’t know. I’m a workaholic? I am always busy on something, and I have a husband who doesn’t mind cleaning house, cooking meals, shopping, and running kids around from this thing to that. (Well, let’s say he doesn’t always mind.) Because I’m an English teacher, there are times when my students are reading or writing that I can too. I don’t watch much television, and I’m usually in my home office for at least a few hours each day. I’ve gotten good at writing fast and using little pieces of time to reach my goals, although sometimes a favorite project gets set aside for something with a more immediate return. As a newspaper columnist, I learned how to write a 500 word piece from scratch to final draft form in under an hour. I’m also great at working on multiple projects at the same time, a talent that certainly came in handy as I wrote When Hearts Conjoin at the same time that I finished the screenplay for Seasons of Salvation."
April 30, 2009
I had a hard time putting this book down when I should have been asleep - the story is compelling, and my heart was drawn in immediately.
It's an amazing story of strength, and faith, and hope.
It's an amazing story of strength, and faith, and hope.
Read
May 31, 2009Miracle upon miracle is recorded in the book When Hearts Conjoin, co-written by Erin Herrin and Lu Ann Staheli, about the wondrous birth, survival, and first-time in the world separation of the co-joined Herrin twins. This book is not about easy faith or perfect people. It is about people who have committed sins, repented, and moved on to build faith that flew in the face of all known medical knowledge of the times.
Beautifully and rivetingly written, this account begins with a marriage on its last legs, and the sudden unwelcome news that Erin was carrying conjoined twins. Not only was their survival way against the odds, the risk to Erin during delivery was enormous. In order to properly deliver the twins by C-section, she would lose tremendous amounts of blood. However, both Erin and her estranged husband Jake felt strongly that the twins should not be aborted (even though the church's stand of putting the health of the mother first would make it acceptable). They both believed from the very beginning that these girls were part of their eternal family. Erin already loved them. Her pregnancy was extremely difficult, to say the least. However, during that time, Jake miraculously returned home and helped her all along the way.
This tale could have been told sentimentally, leaving out all of the difficulties and the humanness of the struggle. But it is told truthfully, in great detail. As a result, the miracles that this couple faced stand starkly against their trials. Their faith shines brightly against the odds that the girls would 1.) survive gestation, 2.) survive delivery, 3.) survive the first years of their lives, and 4.) would survive the never-before-tried separation. I give this away in this review, because their story is well-known the world over. It is also well known that this 26 year old mother, Erin, who subsequently had given birth to another set of twins, gave one of her own kidneys to her daughter Maliyah, who had none after the separation.
What is not known are the difficulties that tried their faith, the way Jake and Erin chose to honor their temple sealing, the tales of angels from the other side helping the girls to cope with their many surgeries.
This is a miracle to rejoice in, a triumphant tale of the latter-days, a joy to inform us that even in the bleakest of times, the Lord is still there with His angels.
Beautifully and rivetingly written, this account begins with a marriage on its last legs, and the sudden unwelcome news that Erin was carrying conjoined twins. Not only was their survival way against the odds, the risk to Erin during delivery was enormous. In order to properly deliver the twins by C-section, she would lose tremendous amounts of blood. However, both Erin and her estranged husband Jake felt strongly that the twins should not be aborted (even though the church's stand of putting the health of the mother first would make it acceptable). They both believed from the very beginning that these girls were part of their eternal family. Erin already loved them. Her pregnancy was extremely difficult, to say the least. However, during that time, Jake miraculously returned home and helped her all along the way.
This tale could have been told sentimentally, leaving out all of the difficulties and the humanness of the struggle. But it is told truthfully, in great detail. As a result, the miracles that this couple faced stand starkly against their trials. Their faith shines brightly against the odds that the girls would 1.) survive gestation, 2.) survive delivery, 3.) survive the first years of their lives, and 4.) would survive the never-before-tried separation. I give this away in this review, because their story is well-known the world over. It is also well known that this 26 year old mother, Erin, who subsequently had given birth to another set of twins, gave one of her own kidneys to her daughter Maliyah, who had none after the separation.
What is not known are the difficulties that tried their faith, the way Jake and Erin chose to honor their temple sealing, the tales of angels from the other side helping the girls to cope with their many surgeries.
This is a miracle to rejoice in, a triumphant tale of the latter-days, a joy to inform us that even in the bleakest of times, the Lord is still there with His angels.
May 17, 2009
The complete and true story behind the Herrin twins miracle!
On August 7-8, 2006, the whole world watched as a team of doctors performed a miracle at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. For the first time, four-year-old twins Maliyah and Kendra Herrin were having surgery—in separate rooms. Born conjoined from mid-torso down, these two angels captured the hearts of millions of people around the world!
When Hearts Conjoin is the heart-warming story of Erin Herrin, her husband Jake, and all five of their children, Courtney, Justin, Austin, and, of course, Maliyah and Kendra. It is also a story of faith, hope and the power of a mother’s love.
Features never before seen pictures. Foreword by #1 New York Times bestselling author Richard Paul Evans. The royalties from this book will go into trust funds for the girls.
I'd like to thank Erin and Jake Herrin for allowing me to be a part of this journey through through their family history and a special thanks to Richard Paul Evans and Karen Christoffersen for believing in my ability. A huge 'thank you' goes to my editor, Heather (H.B.) Moore, for bringing my name to the table to write this book and for the support she and the rest of my writer's critique group give me every week. Annette Lyon, J. Scott Savage, Michele Paige Holmes, and Robison Wells---where would I be without you?
What else can you say when it's your first book. Of course I love it, and I'm proud of it. So of course, I had to give the book five stars!
On August 7-8, 2006, the whole world watched as a team of doctors performed a miracle at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. For the first time, four-year-old twins Maliyah and Kendra Herrin were having surgery—in separate rooms. Born conjoined from mid-torso down, these two angels captured the hearts of millions of people around the world!
When Hearts Conjoin is the heart-warming story of Erin Herrin, her husband Jake, and all five of their children, Courtney, Justin, Austin, and, of course, Maliyah and Kendra. It is also a story of faith, hope and the power of a mother’s love.
Features never before seen pictures. Foreword by #1 New York Times bestselling author Richard Paul Evans. The royalties from this book will go into trust funds for the girls.
I'd like to thank Erin and Jake Herrin for allowing me to be a part of this journey through through their family history and a special thanks to Richard Paul Evans and Karen Christoffersen for believing in my ability. A huge 'thank you' goes to my editor, Heather (H.B.) Moore, for bringing my name to the table to write this book and for the support she and the rest of my writer's critique group give me every week. Annette Lyon, J. Scott Savage, Michele Paige Holmes, and Robison Wells---where would I be without you?
What else can you say when it's your first book. Of course I love it, and I'm proud of it. So of course, I had to give the book five stars!
April 28, 2009
When a woman finds out she’s pregnant, she goes through a variety of emotions. Joy, elation, apprehension, fear of the unknown—and worry that something might go wrong with the pregnancy or delivery. For many women, these fears never materialize into actuality and they are able to enjoy a beautiful, complication-free experience. For Erin, her worst fears came true.
Erin’s marriage had never been strong, and as time went by, it seemed to grow even weaker. Shortly after Erin entered her second pregnancy, her husband announced that he was leaving, and left his wedding ring on the kitchen table. A single mother at the age of twenty, Erin did the best she could to press forward on her own. Deep in her heart, she hoped her husband would come back to her, and he did, just in time to support her as they learned the truth about her pregnancy—not one baby, but two, and they were conjoined.
“When Hearts Conjoin” is Erin’s story as told to Lu Ann Staheli. We go with the Herrins as they experience scare after scare, from the premature breaking of Erin’s water to the separation surgery, everything in between and all that came after. We feel a part of the Herrin family and rejoice with their joy and weep with their sorrow.
This book is a well-written representation of one family’s journey into the darkness to face their deepest fears and back out to face the sunshine. We saw the news reports and watched from afar as these two little girls were separated—now see the event from within the hearts and minds of those who lived it.
Erin’s marriage had never been strong, and as time went by, it seemed to grow even weaker. Shortly after Erin entered her second pregnancy, her husband announced that he was leaving, and left his wedding ring on the kitchen table. A single mother at the age of twenty, Erin did the best she could to press forward on her own. Deep in her heart, she hoped her husband would come back to her, and he did, just in time to support her as they learned the truth about her pregnancy—not one baby, but two, and they were conjoined.
“When Hearts Conjoin” is Erin’s story as told to Lu Ann Staheli. We go with the Herrins as they experience scare after scare, from the premature breaking of Erin’s water to the separation surgery, everything in between and all that came after. We feel a part of the Herrin family and rejoice with their joy and weep with their sorrow.
This book is a well-written representation of one family’s journey into the darkness to face their deepest fears and back out to face the sunshine. We saw the news reports and watched from afar as these two little girls were separated—now see the event from within the hearts and minds of those who lived it.
August 10, 2009
I received this as a GoodReads giveaway.
The story was good. As with Mixed Blessings by the Gosellins, I can't say that I necessarily agree with the decisions to have the children, but the story itself is satisfying.
Trusting their faith in God, Jake and Erin Herrin find out that they are expecting conjoined daughters. Medical professionals keep telling them to terminate the pregnancy, but Erin, and finally Jake adamantly refuse to do so.
WHEN HEARTS CONJOIN chronical the start of Jake and Erin's relationship through the birth of their twin sons. Not only do they have the conjoined daughters, they wind up having twin boys 2 years after the birth of Maliyah and Kendra.
The book starts out awaiting the results of the seperation surgery when the girls are about 4 or 5 years old. The story ends after the seperation and Maliyah awaiting a kidney donated from her mother.
Told in a straightforward style, there's religious undertones, but not enough to put off someone who isn't overly religious. Their faith is strong, but it's not preachy. The girls are adorable, and succeed when the odds were against them.
The story was good. As with Mixed Blessings by the Gosellins, I can't say that I necessarily agree with the decisions to have the children, but the story itself is satisfying.
Trusting their faith in God, Jake and Erin Herrin find out that they are expecting conjoined daughters. Medical professionals keep telling them to terminate the pregnancy, but Erin, and finally Jake adamantly refuse to do so.
WHEN HEARTS CONJOIN chronical the start of Jake and Erin's relationship through the birth of their twin sons. Not only do they have the conjoined daughters, they wind up having twin boys 2 years after the birth of Maliyah and Kendra.
The book starts out awaiting the results of the seperation surgery when the girls are about 4 or 5 years old. The story ends after the seperation and Maliyah awaiting a kidney donated from her mother.
Told in a straightforward style, there's religious undertones, but not enough to put off someone who isn't overly religious. Their faith is strong, but it's not preachy. The girls are adorable, and succeed when the odds were against them.
June 22, 2009
When I saw this book on the goodreads site I knew it was a book I was interested in reading. Years ago I met the Herrin girls when they were still conjoined. They were amazing, it only took me a moment to forget that they were conjoined, they were so vibrant, engaging and very much individuals. I thouroughly enjoyed reading the book, and had a hard time putting it down when something else had to be done. The book for me was as much about the way we engage in life and what life sends towards us, as it was about the journey of the girls and Herrin family. I am amazed at the love and solidarity of this family and how well things seem to be going for them. My well wishes are with them. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
May 19, 2009
I thought I knew so much about the Herrin twins from all of the news stories. I found out differently while reading this book. I don't think most of "us" knew just how emotionally trying this was on their parents or the girls. I am so impressed at the strength Erin Herrin showed as she faced this immense trial in her life. Erin's strength, faith
and courage lifted me so much. All I can say is what a remarkable lady!!
LuAnn has written a story that everyone should read. As I finished reading the book, I was left with a sense of peace and happiness that things had turned out so well for the Herrins.
and courage lifted me so much. All I can say is what a remarkable lady!!
LuAnn has written a story that everyone should read. As I finished reading the book, I was left with a sense of peace and happiness that things had turned out so well for the Herrins.
May 4, 2009
I thought I would just read one chapter, but 2 hours later, I had completed the entire book! Well written - neat story! Fast, easy read - I highly recommend it!
May 13, 2009
An excellent true story of a young mother and the hard decisions she struggled to make about her marriage and her children.
July 29, 2011
This is a very fast story to get through - had I had the time I could have finished it in one sitting. That's not to say it's an easy story because it's anything but.
I'm still sitting here shaking my head at all Erin and Jake were dealt by life. I simply can't imagine having 5 kids all under the age of 5 at the same time, four of them coming from two sets of twins. And that's leaving all of the medical problems OUT.
Erin and Jake's age is another fact that amazes me. There are people twice their age who would have buckled. Yet they stepped up to the plate and, more importantly IMO, they stepped up to the plate willingly and well.
The book is written well and I'm not sure how much is Erin's actual writing or Staheli's. It's possible Erin told the story to Staheli and she then wrote the book. The reason I mention this is because it's written rather well for someone who isn't an author. At least, I think so.
I didn't know, before going into this, that Erin and Jake are LDS. I'm glad I didn't. I know it would have colored my thoughts. I read a lot about religions and cults and have read a good bit on their religion. Their religion comes into play here but Erin and/or Staheli did a great job of keeping that personal. There is no preaching. While I love to read about different religions and cults I do not like being preached to. I only read about these subjects when the book is targeting that subject. I don't like to read about, let's say twins with a medical problem, and be preached to throughout. That's not the case here at all and for that I am beyond thankful. That would have turned me off the entire book and probably would have made me never mention it to a soul, instead of recommending it to others as I've already done.
One awesome aspect of the book is all the photos. I don't know who came up with the idea but it's a fantastic one. Everyone I know - including myself - who like to read non-fiction appreciates photos. It's great to see the person or people you're learning about. That was a major plus IMO.
There were two parts of the book that struck me, both things that Erin said involving her religion. Maybe I'm taking them the wrong way out of not understanding myself, maybe not, I don't know. But I'll mention them here.
The first is on page 145 when Erin is talking about the media waiting for the separation surgery. She writes, "As anyone who has ever been in the news might know, one story is never enough to satisfy the public. The only thing I wanted from all the attention was for someone who read about us to investigate our Church, so we told people it was our LDS faith that helped us remain so strong. It was true.
That strikes me as odd. Number one, why even care about that? Especially at that point in time but really, ever? If that's "true" why say it in relation to it being the "only thing I wanted from all the attention"? I don't know and I hate to say it but that rungs false to me. Believe it or not, that's hard for me to say because every other word in the book seems truthful. Maybe it comes down to religion being so powerful. Even in the midst of such great fear and personal pain she still had an eye on recruiting for her Church.
The second thing that struck me was on page 150. The girls had just been taken away from Erin and Jake for the surgery to begin and Erin was crying as she watched her conjoined girls being taken away for the last time. She writes, "The thought came to me so strongly: Why am I crying? I know the outcome. I knew what was going to happen because they were given a blessing that said their surgery would be successful, and they would bless many people's lives around them. But I couldn't help but wonder a tiny bit if they would be alive to do that."
(The "blessing" Erin mentions is a 'priesthood blessing' which was given by some of her male relatives. The "priesthood holders".)
This has a false ring, for me, as well. How could she know? I'm all for faith. I have faith. But I'm also realistic and at least halfway intelligent. There's no way to know something like that. That would be close to me saying, "I know I'm going to win the lottery for one million dollars next week. Because I have faith." We all know where that would get me right? And I don't want to hear anyone say it's not the same because it very much is the same. Both are things no one but God has any control over and both are things that no one can tell will happen. Very much the same.
Also, if Erin has this "faith", what's with the last sentence? A little reality creeping in?
I'm not trying to be hard on Erin, she's been through more than most of us will ever know. I'm trying to be open and honest and as much as I love God and have my own relationship and faith, I'm very leery of religions like the LDS and some of their antics. I'm leery of anyone - in any religion - giving themselves completely to - not God - but to man in the "name of God".
But that's for a different time and place. The book is well written with a ton, and I do mean a ton, of photos of not only Kendra and Maliyah but Courtney, Erin, Jake and some extended family as well. It's very quick and the authors did a very good job explaining the medical procedures that were mentioned in the book. I know I've learned a few things from reading their story.
I'd most definitely recommend - I already have. I hope Erin, Jake and all of their children lead very happy and healthy lives. For what they've been through they deserve nothing less. In the matter of their parenting and taking responsibility, no matter what, they are what other parents should strive for.
I'm still sitting here shaking my head at all Erin and Jake were dealt by life. I simply can't imagine having 5 kids all under the age of 5 at the same time, four of them coming from two sets of twins. And that's leaving all of the medical problems OUT.
Erin and Jake's age is another fact that amazes me. There are people twice their age who would have buckled. Yet they stepped up to the plate and, more importantly IMO, they stepped up to the plate willingly and well.
The book is written well and I'm not sure how much is Erin's actual writing or Staheli's. It's possible Erin told the story to Staheli and she then wrote the book. The reason I mention this is because it's written rather well for someone who isn't an author. At least, I think so.
I didn't know, before going into this, that Erin and Jake are LDS. I'm glad I didn't. I know it would have colored my thoughts. I read a lot about religions and cults and have read a good bit on their religion. Their religion comes into play here but Erin and/or Staheli did a great job of keeping that personal. There is no preaching. While I love to read about different religions and cults I do not like being preached to. I only read about these subjects when the book is targeting that subject. I don't like to read about, let's say twins with a medical problem, and be preached to throughout. That's not the case here at all and for that I am beyond thankful. That would have turned me off the entire book and probably would have made me never mention it to a soul, instead of recommending it to others as I've already done.
One awesome aspect of the book is all the photos. I don't know who came up with the idea but it's a fantastic one. Everyone I know - including myself - who like to read non-fiction appreciates photos. It's great to see the person or people you're learning about. That was a major plus IMO.
There were two parts of the book that struck me, both things that Erin said involving her religion. Maybe I'm taking them the wrong way out of not understanding myself, maybe not, I don't know. But I'll mention them here.
The first is on page 145 when Erin is talking about the media waiting for the separation surgery. She writes, "As anyone who has ever been in the news might know, one story is never enough to satisfy the public. The only thing I wanted from all the attention was for someone who read about us to investigate our Church, so we told people it was our LDS faith that helped us remain so strong. It was true.
That strikes me as odd. Number one, why even care about that? Especially at that point in time but really, ever? If that's "true" why say it in relation to it being the "only thing I wanted from all the attention"? I don't know and I hate to say it but that rungs false to me. Believe it or not, that's hard for me to say because every other word in the book seems truthful. Maybe it comes down to religion being so powerful. Even in the midst of such great fear and personal pain she still had an eye on recruiting for her Church.
The second thing that struck me was on page 150. The girls had just been taken away from Erin and Jake for the surgery to begin and Erin was crying as she watched her conjoined girls being taken away for the last time. She writes, "The thought came to me so strongly: Why am I crying? I know the outcome. I knew what was going to happen because they were given a blessing that said their surgery would be successful, and they would bless many people's lives around them. But I couldn't help but wonder a tiny bit if they would be alive to do that."
(The "blessing" Erin mentions is a 'priesthood blessing' which was given by some of her male relatives. The "priesthood holders".)
This has a false ring, for me, as well. How could she know? I'm all for faith. I have faith. But I'm also realistic and at least halfway intelligent. There's no way to know something like that. That would be close to me saying, "I know I'm going to win the lottery for one million dollars next week. Because I have faith." We all know where that would get me right? And I don't want to hear anyone say it's not the same because it very much is the same. Both are things no one but God has any control over and both are things that no one can tell will happen. Very much the same.
Also, if Erin has this "faith", what's with the last sentence? A little reality creeping in?
I'm not trying to be hard on Erin, she's been through more than most of us will ever know. I'm trying to be open and honest and as much as I love God and have my own relationship and faith, I'm very leery of religions like the LDS and some of their antics. I'm leery of anyone - in any religion - giving themselves completely to - not God - but to man in the "name of God".
But that's for a different time and place. The book is well written with a ton, and I do mean a ton, of photos of not only Kendra and Maliyah but Courtney, Erin, Jake and some extended family as well. It's very quick and the authors did a very good job explaining the medical procedures that were mentioned in the book. I know I've learned a few things from reading their story.
I'd most definitely recommend - I already have. I hope Erin, Jake and all of their children lead very happy and healthy lives. For what they've been through they deserve nothing less. In the matter of their parenting and taking responsibility, no matter what, they are what other parents should strive for.
January 8, 2020
Unbelievable faith and endurance of the Herrin Family as challenges mount! Kendra and Maliyah are Heaven-sent heroes w/family support and unconditional love second to none! High five to their parents, Erin and Jake!!! 🤟
June 6, 2009
I'm not a news watcher. I find it depressing to hear about the horrors humanity does to one another across the globe. That being said, I didn't follow Kendra and Maliyah's story as it unfolded. But I've have had to be in a coma not to know what was going on, and I count myself among the thousands who prayed for these little girls and their family during that time.
Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed When Hearts Conjoin. Their mother, Erin, gives an at times unflinching view into her life and her family. She admits her mistakes, shows us her moments of weakness, and in all proves that she's human. She's not a superwoman who experienced a manageable crisis--she's just like all the rest of us mothers who have to make decisions for our children and hope for the best.
I can't begin to compare the experience I had with one of my twins having surgery at 10 months with what the Herrin family experienced, but because of what I went through I could empathize with how Erin felt at times. I know what it feels like to hand your dying child (or children) to a team of surgeons and relinquish that control, hoping and praying for the best. If you haven't experienced that, there's no way to describe it.
LuAnn Staheli is an excellent author and she did a fantastic job working with Erin on this book. It's an excellent read and I recommend it to anyone, though I do caution you to have a box of tissues handy.
Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed When Hearts Conjoin. Their mother, Erin, gives an at times unflinching view into her life and her family. She admits her mistakes, shows us her moments of weakness, and in all proves that she's human. She's not a superwoman who experienced a manageable crisis--she's just like all the rest of us mothers who have to make decisions for our children and hope for the best.
I can't begin to compare the experience I had with one of my twins having surgery at 10 months with what the Herrin family experienced, but because of what I went through I could empathize with how Erin felt at times. I know what it feels like to hand your dying child (or children) to a team of surgeons and relinquish that control, hoping and praying for the best. If you haven't experienced that, there's no way to describe it.
LuAnn Staheli is an excellent author and she did a fantastic job working with Erin on this book. It's an excellent read and I recommend it to anyone, though I do caution you to have a box of tissues handy.
May 14, 2009
This is one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read. Even though I knew what the outcome of the story would be as I turned the pages, I was pulling for the Herrin family, especially Erin, as I read about their struggles over all of those long, trial filled years. She is one tough woman. Congratulations to both her and her husband Jake for their beautiful family and the happiness they have found together. What a wonderful testament to forgiveness, love, and miracles. I am sure that Heaven has many special blessings yet in store for them. May God continue to bless the Herrin family!
And as for the co-writer of the book, Lu Ann Staheli, I was mightily impressed by her skill in weaving the tale. This is the first work of hers I have ever read. Only a driving need for sleep allowed me to put the book down, and then only until I knew I had time to finish the other half of the book in one sitting.
Fantastic. Go get this book.
And as for the co-writer of the book, Lu Ann Staheli, I was mightily impressed by her skill in weaving the tale. This is the first work of hers I have ever read. Only a driving need for sleep allowed me to put the book down, and then only until I knew I had time to finish the other half of the book in one sitting.
Fantastic. Go get this book.
December 29, 2013
When I saw this book on the library shelf several years ago I put it on my mile long "to-read" list. Life stories, biography's are not my favorite genre, but I remember hearing about these girls on the news and I wanted to know the whole story. It was a fast read for me. I sat down, on the floor, cause I was picking up the book from the floor. Skimmed the whole book in just a couple of hours. It was good and I missed some key parts so I decided to re-read it all cover to cover the next day. Erin and Jake are very brave to put their story out there for all to read and ultimately judge. I am glad they were willing to share their whole story both the good times and the hard times. I am a person who learns a lot from others. I was able to learn about love, trials, pain, heartache, sorrow and joy. This little family has been through the "refiner's fire" and it is great to see the happiness they have.
September 29, 2010
When the Herrins were on the news, I found myself praying for them, but also in awe of their strength and faith. I was expecting to read about the difficulties and trials that were associated with the conjoined twins, but Erin takes it all the way back to the beginning of her relationship with Jake and the trials they experienced all along the way, that ultimately prepared them for this experience with the twins. I found it refreshing how open and honest Erin was about her weaknesses and mistakes, and my heart ached for this little family that I've never even met. I admire their courage to rebuild their family and stay together even though it wasn't easy by any stretch of the imagination. And I found it amazing that through their hard times, miracles abounded.
June 28, 2010
This book is a memoir of Erin Herrin's experiences as a mother of conjoined twins. I love books like this--stories of seemingly regular people with an extraordinary experience to share. There were some parts that gave TMI (I really didn't care to know what day she became pregnant) and others where I could just cry for her and feel her pain like when she was going through marital problems. And it was really hard for me to get past three, yes three, editoral mistakes (calling her husband Jack instead of Jake and two misplaced quotation marks--can you find them?) Overall, this was a great read and I would highly recommend it for anyone wanting an inspirational lift!
June 6, 2009
I received this from a goodreads drawing. I was interested to read about these girls and their situation as I remembered hearing about them in the news when they were first born and then again when they underwent their separation.
I found Erin's willingness to openly share her story and her feelings refreshing.She is candid about choices she made and how they have affected her life. The challenges she and her family have faced and continue to face could be daunting, but her faith and trust in a loving and caring God make all things possible.
I found Erin's willingness to openly share her story and her feelings refreshing.She is candid about choices she made and how they have affected her life. The challenges she and her family have faced and continue to face could be daunting, but her faith and trust in a loving and caring God make all things possible.
March 12, 2010
Incredible story about conjoined twins! The mother of the of twins wrote this history of events. She's not a writer, so the writing is mediocre, but it was good enough to provoke lots of thought about what I think I would do in this same stressful situation. It was interesting to read about how they came to love the girls' conjoined body and actually missed being able to hold them together after they were surgically separated. I would like to have been able to read more about their development and how they interacted with each other as babies/toddlers/preschoolers. Pretty neat story.
May 3, 2010
There haven't been a lot of books that I've read in one sitting--this was one of them. I really couldn't believe everything this Erin went through, and that she was so willing to share personal details--and often painful details of her life with the world.
As the mother of one set of twins, I just can't imagine having two sets--one set of them conjoined. Erin and Jake had to make decisions that people shouldn't have to make, and this book is a testament to the power of prayers and miracles.
As the mother of one set of twins, I just can't imagine having two sets--one set of them conjoined. Erin and Jake had to make decisions that people shouldn't have to make, and this book is a testament to the power of prayers and miracles.
February 4, 2014
This was a fascinating read about the Herrin family and their struggles to make their marriage work and raise a growing family that included formerly conjoined twins. We get to ride along on the emotional roller coaster when Erin learns that she is pregnant with twins and that they are conjoined. Against many, many odds she opts to continue the pregnancy and have the children. Erin and her daughters are definitely fighters. The book reads as though you are having a conversation with Erin making it a quick read.
September 15, 2015
Genre: Biography
This biography written by Erin Marie Herrin was definitely well written. I loved how she continually kept you wondering what was going to happen to the girl's next. In fact, after I finished reading this well-thought out book, I researched the Herrin's on the internet to see what their life is like now! I love how Erin walks us through her life through-out those few years, the bad times and the good! I'm hoping Erin Herrin chooses to make another book about the girls updating all of us readers about what the girls are like as teenagers!
This biography written by Erin Marie Herrin was definitely well written. I loved how she continually kept you wondering what was going to happen to the girl's next. In fact, after I finished reading this well-thought out book, I researched the Herrin's on the internet to see what their life is like now! I love how Erin walks us through her life through-out those few years, the bad times and the good! I'm hoping Erin Herrin chooses to make another book about the girls updating all of us readers about what the girls are like as teenagers!
December 6, 2010
I loved reading the Herrin's story from Erin's view and not just from the media. I remember watching these little girls through their separation. I'm amazed at the strength these two have. I saw them this past summer at the swimming pool and loved seeing them be normal like any other children their age. I was very touched by the faith and strength this family has and the power of the love our Heavenly Father has for each one of us and to know that He is truly there when we need him.
April 28, 2011
Great story but I felt the writing was quite shallow, and even a bit cheesy in some parts. It definitely isn't a novel where it goes into depth with feelings and detailed events. It reads more like a journal of events: this is what happened, then this happened, then it was hard and I was sad, but then it got better. However, it is an amazing story. For one person and family to go through all this, pretty cool. Just wish it was written better.
September 10, 2009
"When Hearts Conjoin" is an intriguing and inspiring true story that stays in the mind long after the last page. The book is well written and I had strong feelings of compassion for both the parents and the twins as their ordeals unfolded. I recommend this fine book as an uplifting and thought-provoking read that made me want to go and hug all concerned in its telling.
March 4, 2010
A quick read that got me thinking about the various challenges that come with motherhood and the choices we are sometimes forced to make. The Herrin's are amazing. I don't know how I could have emotionally withstood having conjoined twins and then another set of twins and then facing the separation surgery. Sheesh!
May 29, 2009
Interesting read but I don't think I would have aired that much of my dirty laundry for everyone to read about how troubled my marriage was. The poor girls have been through a lot and I hope the best for them in their futures.
September 22, 2009
I was fascinated by this story while it was playing out on the news. I thought that it was amazing what extraordinary things ordinary people can do when they have to. The book is an hour read. Easy and interesting.
April 14, 2012
Interesting, I can't imagine the difficulty of the situations this family went through and will continue to go through. I wish the pictures would have been labeled so that you could tell which twin was which.
September 19, 2015
This book was really hard to put down! I remember the Herrin twins when I worked at the hospital. I quit when they were about a year old so I didn't hear much about them after that. I loved the part about Dr. Matlak. He was a great surgeon and he even did a surgery on my son. Great story!
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