Kimberly Mays, the girl at the center of a famous baby switch case, had a tumultuous life after the discovery that she had been switched at birth with another baby. She struggled with her identity and had legal battles with both sets of parents.
Kimberly Mays was born in 1978 at Hardee Memorial Hospital in Wauchula, Florida. She was switched at birth with another baby girl, Arlena Twigg. The mix-up was discovered in 1988 when Arlena, who was being raised by Regina and Ernest Twigg, died of a congenital heart defect, and subsequent genetic testing revealed that she was not the Twiggs’ biological daughter. The biological parents of Kimberly and Arlena were then identified: Kimberly was the biological daughter of the Twiggs, and Arlena was the biological daughter of Bob Mays, who had been raising Kimberly.
The revelation led to a highly publicized legal battle over Kimberly’s custody. Initially, Kimberly chose to stay with Bob Mays, the man who had raised her, but as she grew older, she became conflicted about her identity and her relationships with both sets of parents. At one point, she attempted to legally divorce the Twiggs, seeking emancipation, but later reconciled with them.
Kimberly’s life continued to be challenging. She faced personal struggles, including multiple marriages and divorces, and issues with her own children. Her story was the subject of media attention and was also dramatized in a television movie. Despite the difficulties, Kimberly has worked to maintain a private life and deal with the complex emotional legacy of her unusual upbringing.