Formerly conjoined twins brighten Hill AFB’s food court
Right/Left: Patricia and Ashley Barson, just the second conjoined twins ever separated at the head in Utah, both work at the Exchange Food Court at Hill Air Force Base. Patricia recently won the Department of Defense Outstanding Employee with a Disability Award. Photo taken October 21, 2015 at the Exchange at Hill Air Force Base in Clearfield, Utah.
Patricia Barson's sister Ashley also works at the Exchange Food Court at Hill Air Force Base. Photo taken October 21, 2015 at the Exchange at Hill Air Force Base in Clearfield, Utah.
Patricia Barson, left, shares a moment with sister Ashley while being interviewed Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at the Exchange Food Court at Hill Air Force Base in Clearfield, Utah.
HILL AIR FORCE BASE — When Ashley and Tricia Barson were born joined at the head 31 years ago, most people around them assumed their chances of survival were slim to none.
At that time, only one other set of conjoined twins fused at the head had survived a separation surgery in Utah. Elisa and Lisa Hansen, who were born a few years before the Barson twins, were the first.
“Everyone kept telling me not to expect them to survive the operation,” the twins’ mother Kathie Barson said. “But I always knew they’d be fine and I always told myself they would not only survive, but they would lead as normal lives as possible.”
Kathie’s premonition, which she says came from her faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, turned out to be spot on.
Today, Ashley and Tricia work together at the Hill Air Force Base Exchange Food Court. Tricia was recently tabbed as the Department of Defense’s Outstanding Employee with a Disability — recognized for the exceptional service she provides to Hill airmen, families and retirees at the base’s Taco Bell.
BENJAMIN HAGER/Standard-Examiner
Patricia Barson works at the Taco Bell Exchange Food Court at Hill Air Force Base, and recently won the Department of Defense Outstanding Employee with a Disability Award. Photo taken October 21, 2015 at the Exchange at Hill Air Force Base in Clearfield, Utah.
Tricia’s supervisors, Taylor Kipp and Mike Woodburn, say her positive attitude and desire to help others is unmatched.
“Her work ethic, her attitude and just her overall spirit do amazing things for our organization,” Kipp said. “She just has a way of going about her day that uplifts everyone around her. You can’t really understand it until you experience it, day in and day out, but it’s truly amazing.”
Ashley isn’t far behind, Woodburn said.
“The way they both connect with people is something pretty special,” he said. “Always smiling, always happy. In today’s world, there’s something to be said for the kind of positive attitude they have. It’s contagious.”
Kathie said her twins have undoubtedly faced challenges and physical limitations that most will never encounter. Separated in 1984 at six months old, the twins both suffered strokes as a result of surgery and have limited use of the left sides of their body.
They’ve undergone more than 180 hours of surgery, enduring well over 30 individual procedures, Kathie said.
“They had the major surgery, but then we’d always have to go back for touch ups,” she said. “They’ve had lots of leg and ankle surgeries, facial reconstructions. It hasn’t been easy for them.”
But through it all, Kathie and her husband Aaron Barson — a retired Air Force colonel — placed a strong emphasis on treating the twins just like their other four children.
“We raised them just like our other kids,” Kathie said. “We never treated them differently or cut them any slack. They had to do all of the things other kids had to do.”
Tricia said being brought up in such a manner made her quickly realize she’d have to learn to adapt. She offers her ability to tie a necktie and her shoelaces using only her right hand as an example.
“I think of my disability as learning how to do things in a different way,” she said. “I have the ability to do anything that people with two great hands can do.”
Ashley said she and her sister appreciate being treated like anyone else and they can’t stand to be pitied or given special treatment.
“Everyone has a disability of some kind,” she said. “Some of them are just more visible than others. Sometimes, when someone has a disability, people will act like they feel sorry for that person. People with (outward) disabilities want to be treated like everyone else.”
The pair says the five-day-a-week grind of their Hill food court jobs provides that.
“We’re expected to work just like everyone else,” Tricia said. “And that’s how we like it.”
You can reach reporter Mitch Shaw at mishaw@standard.net or at 801-625-4233. Follow him on Twitter at @mitchshaw23 or like him on Facebook.
