These teenage triplets had a challenging beginning but are now thriving in a loving family. Macey, Mackenzie, and Madeline were born to parents struggling with drug addiction who couldn’t care for them, especially since two of them were conjoined twins.
A family of strangers stepped up to provide them with the care and affection they needed. Darla and Jeff Garrison, who lived in California and already had three sons—Tyler, 20; Matt, 17; and Luke, 16—decided to adopt the girls. “We didn’t know what to expect, but they just needed someone who loved them,” Darla shared with Closer. Madeline joined their family when she was just four days old, while Macey and Mackenzie arrived four weeks later.
The Garrisons, who had previously fostered neglected or medically fragile children, had always hoped to adopt girls to complete their family of boys. “We fell in love with them, and our boys were thrilled to have three sisters,” Darla told Closer.
Once the girls were in their new home, the priority was to ensure Macey and Mackenzie could be successfully separated. Conjoined twins are an exceptionally rare occurrence, happening in about one in 200,000 live births. The separation surgery took place at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in 2003.
Two years after their adoption, the family relocated to a farm in Indianola, Iowa. Macey and Mackenzie, who were conjoined at the pelvis and weighed only 2.2 pounds each at birth, now use prosthetics to replace the leg they shared.
Despite some physical challenges, the girls lead largely normal lives and handle everyday tasks, like washing dishes, alongside their sister Madeline. “When they face something they can’t do, they don’t dwell on it for long,” Darla told People.
The journey to their current success required significant effort, as mastering prosthetics demands considerable strength and balance. “Their achievements reflect their hard work and the dedication of their family. Their progress is both remarkable and inspiring,” said Dr. James Stein, the pediatric surgeon who performed the separation.
At 21, the girls are vibrant and joyful, flourishing in a home filled with love from their parents and brothers.
Feel free to SHARE this inspiring story with friends and family.