KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Conjoined twins born earlier this week to Jackie Hemphill left the hospital Friday for a special hospice in Westport.

The babies are staying at Alexandra's House, which is a hospice and infant rescue.

The babies, named Joy and Joya, slept wrapped in each others arms as their Aunt Benita held them.

"I just love them to death. I can't help but just love them," Benita said.

Hemphill said she never imagined this would happen. Doctors did not expect the babies to live.

"I don't know how long they'll live, how long they won't, but I'm just going to spend every moment I can with them," Hemphill said.

The girls share a liver and a heart. Hemphill said she prepared herself for the worst but is encouraged by some signs.

"No feeding tubes. No nothing. They're eating like normal babies. They're just beautiful," Hemphill said.

Doctors said that the girls are unlikely to survive separated or with donated organs. Hemphill said she is not giving up.

"I just hope I can spend every minute with them. Maybe later down the line, six months from now, they'll get re-evaluated and everything works out for the best, and I can save at least one," Hemphill said.

Hemphill said that she does not understand why this happened, but she is not questioning it.

"When God made them, he doesn't make mistakes. He knew exactly what He was doing. We just don't know why," Hemphill said.

Hemphill said she did not buy things to take the babies home because she thought it would be harder to live with that.

She said she believes Alexandra's House is the best place for all of them to stay.

More Information:

To learn more about Alexandra's House, click here.

A fund has also been set up to help support the family. Donations can be sent to:
Joy and Joya Kalu Fund
Bank of America
331 Westport Rd.
Kansas City, MO 64111