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Shine · 07-12-2009, 05:48 PM

Does anyone remember this case?

It involved two babies. Kimberly Mays and Arlena Twigg, who were born days apart of one another in November of 1978. In August of 1988, Arlena died and a blood test indicated that she was bilogically the child of different parents. Due to a mistake (some same conspiracy), Kimberly and Arlena were swticed at birth and went home with the wrong familes. A television movie called Switched At Birth aired during the spring of 1991 and during the summer of 1993, Kimberly took legal action against the Twigg family so that she could stay with the father who raised her. A couple of years later, Kimberly left her father to go live with the Twigg family. As an adult, Kimberly's life has been just as dramatic as her childhood, when a few years ago she was convicted of abusing her own child.

Yesterday, I picked up a book at the library called The Baby Swap Conspiracy by Loretta Schwatrz- Noble which goes into more detail of what happened than the movie. I think this is one of the saddest events I've ever heard about. Two girls were born in 1978, one dies as a little girl and the other grows up to be mentally unstable.

Chocoholic · 07-12-2009, 06:03 PM

I remember hearing about that case. There was another case about 10 years ago where two girls were sent home with the wrong families. I think the parents of one of the girls had died in a car crash or something.

Shine · 07-12-2009, 06:40 PM

A little bit of trivia: In the movie, Kimberly was played by Ariana Richards, who two years later played Lex in Jurassic Park.

ZeldaGilroy · 07-12-2009, 07:16 PM

I remember that story. How sad! I watched the movie a long time ago and it was on Lifetime Movie Network not too long ago. I haven't read the book though. The whole situation makes me so sad.

catlover79 · 07-12-2009, 07:38 PM

I don't remember hearing about this story, but it is sad.

browneyes106 · 07-12-2009, 08:45 PM

I remember seeing the movie back when it first aired on NBC. I have seen about ten times on different cable channels. I remember seeing a 20/20 segment on the case and the Twiggs seemed to be very controlling of the whole thing with Kimberely. I haven't seen the miniseries in about two or three but almost everytime after watching I felt really depressed.

InspectorExstead · 07-13-2009, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FactsFan

I remember that story. How sad! I watched the movie a long time ago and it was on Lifetime Movie Network not too long ago. I haven't read the book though. The whole situation makes me so sad.

I'm pretty sure I saw it on Lifetime also. The story sounds really familiar. It's just an overall sad situation. I can't imagine what it's like to find out who you thought were your parents aren't your birth parents.

Shine · 07-13-2009, 03:08 AM

Since Kimberly and Arlena were born just a little over two years after me, this has always been a story that has hit really clsoe to home with me. These are girls I could have grown up with.

browneyes106 · 07-14-2009, 01:46 AM

I sometimes wonder how the situation would have differed if Arlena had been healthy and never died. I read in a magazine article that Twiggs said if Arlena was alive they would have wanted to raise her and Kimberely as sisters. I think if both girls were healthy and happy I think it would have been better that they be raised by the parents who took the home as infants.

Shine · 07-17-2009, 05:22 PM

The last three days I've been reading The Baby Swap Conspiracy and its very intersting but very sad.

I'm at the part where Arlena just passed away and I feel so bad that this poor little girl, who would be almost 31 if she had lived, never got to grow up. I'm also very greatful that I had the chance to grow up and experience all that I have.

Shine · 07-17-2009, 05:31 PM

In the movie Arlena Twigg was played by Erika Flores who in 1991 appeared in the Star Trek-The Next Generation episode "Disaster" (her characters name was actually Marissa Flores) and the 1992 episode of Step by Step called "Bully For Mark". She later co-starred in the CBS series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. Here is a picture of Erika as Arlena and a publicity photo of Erika as Arlena and Ariana Richards as Kimberly.

browneyes106 · 07-17-2009, 05:42 PM

I will definitely add that book to my reading list. I kind of want to know more about the story.

07-12-2009, 05:48 PM	#1
Shine Forum Veteran Jeff Bridges Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 22,796	Switched At Birth Does anyone remember this case? It involved two babies. Kimberly Mays and Arlena Twigg, who were born days apart of one another in November of 1978. In August of 1988, Arlena died and a blood test indicated that she was bilogically the child of different parents. Due to a mistake (some same conspiracy), Kimberly and Arlena were swticed at birth and went home with the wrong familes. A television movie called Switched At Birth aired during the spring of 1991 and during the summer of 1993, Kimberly took legal action against the Twigg family so that she could stay with the father who raised her. A couple of years later, Kimberly left her father to go live with the Twigg family. As an adult, Kimberly's life has been just as dramatic as her childhood, when a few years ago she was convicted of abusing her own child. Yesterday, I picked up a book at the library called The Baby Swap Conspiracy by Loretta Schwatrz- Noble which goes into more detail of what happened than the movie. I think this is one of the saddest events I've ever heard about. Two girls were born in 1978, one dies as a little girl and the other grows up to be mentally unstable. Last edited by Shine : 07-17-2009 at 05:50 PM.

07-12-2009, 06:40 PM	#3
Shine Forum Veteran Jeff Bridges Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 22,796	A little bit of trivia: In the movie, Kimberly was played by Ariana Richards, who two years later played Lex in Jurassic Park. Attached Images

07-12-2009, 07:38 PM	#5
catlover79 Moderator Forum Legend God Bless Val Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 67,655	I don't remember hearing about this story, but it is sad. __________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

07-17-2009, 05:31 PM	#11
Shine Forum Veteran Jeff Bridges Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 22,796	In the movie Arlena Twigg was played by Erika Flores who in 1991 appeared in the Star Trek-The Next Generation episode "Disaster" (her characters name was actually Marissa Flores) and the 1992 episode of Step by Step called "Bully For Mark". She later co-starred in the CBS series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. Here is a picture of Erika as Arlena and a publicity photo of Erika as Arlena and Ariana Richards as Kimberly. Attached Images

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07-12-2009, 06:03 PM	#2
Chocoholic Banned!! Forum Veteran Banned Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,173	I remember hearing about that case. There was another case about 10 years ago where two girls were sent home with the wrong families. I think the parents of one of the girls had died in a car crash or something.

07-12-2009, 07:16 PM	#4
ZeldaGilroy Senior Member Dobie and Zelda Forever!!! Join Date: Nov 14, 2000 Location: I don't know...I'm probably lost! Posts: 4,065	I remember that story. How sad! I watched the movie a long time ago and it was on Lifetime Movie Network not too long ago. I haven't read the book though. The whole situation makes me so sad.

07-12-2009, 08:45 PM	#6
browneyes106 Senior Member Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,041	I remember seeing the movie back when it first aired on NBC. I have seen about ten times on different cable channels. I remember seeing a 20/20 segment on the case and the Twiggs seemed to be very controlling of the whole thing with Kimberely. I haven't seen the miniseries in about two or three but almost everytime after watching I felt really depressed.

07-13-2009, 03:08 AM	#8
Shine Forum Veteran Jeff Bridges Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 22,796	Since Kimberly and Arlena were born just a little over two years after me, this has always been a story that has hit really clsoe to home with me. These are girls I could have grown up with.

07-14-2009, 01:46 AM	#9
browneyes106 Senior Member Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,041	I sometimes wonder how the situation would have differed if Arlena had been healthy and never died. I read in a magazine article that Twiggs said if Arlena was alive they would have wanted to raise her and Kimberely as sisters. I think if both girls were healthy and happy I think it would have been better that they be raised by the parents who took the home as infants.

07-17-2009, 05:22 PM	#10
Shine Forum Veteran Jeff Bridges Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 22,796	The last three days I've been reading The Baby Swap Conspiracy and its very intersting but very sad. I'm at the part where Arlena just passed away and I feel so bad that this poor little girl, who would be almost 31 if she had lived, never got to grow up. I'm also very greatful that I had the chance to grow up and experience all that I have.

07-17-2009, 05:42 PM	#12
browneyes106 Senior Member Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,041	I will definitely add that book to my reading list. I kind of want to know more about the story.