Abigail and Brittany Hensel live in New Germany, Minnesota. They are Siamese twins with a unique body structure. Between them, the girls have two spines, two hearts (a common circulatory system), two stomachs, three kidneys, three lungs and common genitals.
This is only the fourth case recorded in scientific archives in which twins with such anatomy survived. Moreover, each sister feels touch only on her half of the body and can control only one arm and one leg. Incredibly, they manage to lead a completely normal life.
Over 27 years, Abby and Brittany have learned to coordinate their movements so well that they don’t have to deny themselves anything. Without any apparent difficulty, they ride a bicycle, swim, play volleyball and play the piano, dividing the composition into parts for the left and right hands. Moreover, American women even passed their licenses and now can easily drive around in own car.
On top of that, girls also have different heights. Abby is 157 centimeters, and her sister is ten centimeters shorter. Their leg lengths are also different, and Brittany has to wear shoes longer. high heels or walk on tiptoes so as not to limp.
In general, there are a lot of surprising things about them. “My temperature may be completely different,” Abby says. - We often feel that when our palms touch different temperatures" Hobbies, characters and taste preferences. For example, Brittany loves milk, but her sister hates it. When they eat soup, Brittany won't let her sister put crackers on her half.
It often seems to others that girls can read each other’s thoughts. It is common for them to finish a sentence started by their sister. In one of their interviews, they recalled an incident when one of them asked: “Are you thinking about the same thing as I am?” It turned out that this was the case, after which the girls turned off the TV and went to read a book. Doctors explain this by the fact that certain parts of their nervous system intersect.
When the sisters disagree about what to do, they flip a coin, ask their parents for advice, or set the order of the desired actions. But now they can find a compromise relatively easily, and in childhood, Abby and Brittany even fought.
The girls graduated from the university with two diplomas. Now they teach mathematics in high school. But they receive one salary. They have everything in common, even life.
Abigail Loraine Hensel and Brittany Lee Hensel were born at the same time in March 1990. It turned out to be an incredibly rare case - the daughters of Patty and Mike Hensel turned out to be conjoined twins. In general, dicephalic twins are born extremely rarely; in general, there were only four cases similar to Hensel. By the way, when the amazed parents saw their girls, they still did not know that soon these babies would become the most famous dicephalic people in the world.
So, the Hensel sisters look very unusual - they have two heads on one torso. Two arms, two legs and two heads - yet Abigail and Brittany are completely different personalities. In addition to the general appearance The sisters have a lot in common from an anatomical point of view - they have one excretory and one genitourinary system, one liver between them, two hearts, but at the same time a common circulatory system, three kidneys and lungs, as well as two stomachs. They have two spines, as well as two spinal cords.
By the way, speaking of food, Abigail and Brittany, being different in character, also have their own preferences in food; however, sometimes sisters bite off the same hamburger for convenience. It is known that each of the girls controls one arm and one leg, respectively, and their entire body is also divided into two halves - Abigail feels hers, Brittany feels hers.
Despite the fact that their body looks quite normal, the sisters have to work harmoniously and coordinatedly, because their hands are “different”. So, when they drive a car, they control the steering wheel together, but all the instruments are “divided” between them into right and left halves. By the way, the girls took the exam to obtain a driver’s license twice – once for each. They buy clothes in regular stores, and then alter them a little - after all, the sisters need two necks on T-shirts and shirts.
Despite all their unusualness, the girls went to the most ordinary school, graduating in 2008. Next, the sisters went to college, they chose Bethel University in St. Paul (St. Paul, Minnesota). In 2012, both received bachelor's degrees.
It is noteworthy that before they came of age, the Hensel sisters did not receive much attention in the press, but later they became very popular in the media and on television. The Hensel sisters first appeared on television in 1996 on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Then, after a long break, there were several appearances in 2001-2007, but in August 2012, a series called “Abby & Brittany” started, where the sisters became the main characters.
By the way, the girls themselves do not hide at all and are not ashamed of themselves - they willingly answer any questions and, like any young girls, enjoy popularity. But they don’t like being photographed without permission - unfortunately, this happens quite often on the streets of large unfamiliar cities. It would be much more pleasant for the sisters if an anonymous photographer came up before the photo, said hello, exchanged a few words, and only then took the photo - in this case, he would even deserve their sweet smiles.
There is no need to talk about whether Abigail and Brittany are happy or not - for all their unusualness, they are completely ordinary young American women. They love baseball and football, watch shows and movies, wear baseball caps, love spending time with friends and dream of a future and a strong, loving family of their own. And if they are asked about the advantages of their position, they answer out loud: we are never bored and always have someone to talk to.
Abigail and Brittany Hensel were born 28 years ago. They have different characters, interests, style. The only thing that unites them is one body. In 1998, after the publication of an article in Life magazine, the whole world learned about Siamese twins. How their lives turned out after almost 20 years is further in the review.
The girls' body structure is unique, all vital organs are paired. True, each of them is responsible for its own side of the body. Abby is in control left hand and leg, and Brittany - the right. As children, the most difficult thing for them was to coordinate their movements. But judging by the way they confidently move down the street, it becomes clear that they succeeded. Also, girls no longer notice their difference in height. Abby is 10 cm taller than her sister. Brittany always walks on tiptoes for balance.
Moreover, the Hensel sisters are excellent at playing volleyball and the piano, with Abby playing the parts with her right hand, and Brittany with her left. The girls achieved such harmony in controlling their bodies that they even received driver’s licenses.
Despite the fact that Siamese twins can finish the same sentence in chorus, they are very different in character. Today, Abby and Brittany have already learned to agree on where exactly they should go for a walk or what to wear, and even in childhood, there were fights between the sisters: one would hit the other on the head in the heat of an argument.
The girls have two diplomas of education. Each of them has its own specialty, because Abby mathematical warehouse mind, and Brittany’s is humanitarian. Now the sisters work as teachers in elementary school. True, the girls lament the fact that they receive one salary, because in fact they do one job for two.
Girls consider themselves lucky to have friends who accept them for who they really are. It’s more difficult not to react to the reactions of passers-by who can’t hold back and point their fingers at the girls or take pictures on their phones. You also have to endure increased attention from journalists to their person.
Today society is learning to be tolerant of people with special needs. And at the beginning of the twentieth century conjoined twins exhibited for the amusement of the public. That's exactly what they did with
Meet Abigail and Brittany Hensel. By the way, the sisters ask not to call them a two-headed girl, since they are absolutely two different people, are simply in the same body.
Now they are already 25 years old, they graduated from university and work as teachers at school.
Surprisingly, being in such a state, they have not lost their cheerfulness and love life in such a way that many full-fledged people would do well to learn! And this cannot but delight!
The sisters have one body for two, two legs, two arms. They also have two hearts, two stomachs and two gall bladders. But the circulatory system is one. The sisters have three kidneys, one liver, one colon and three lungs and common reproductive organs. Each of the girls has its own spine, which merges into one in the pelvic area.
The scientific name for such twins is dicephalic. The birth of such children is extremely rare and at the moment the Hensel sisters are the only living twins - dicephalic.
The girls were born on March 7, 1990 in the USA, Minnesota. His father works as a carpenter, and his mother is a nurse. They also have younger brother and sister. When Abby and Brit were born, doctors suggested that the mother perform an operation to separate them, as a result of which only one of the girls would survive. But Patty, the girls' mother, categorically refused, saying that she could never decide to kill. Her sisters thank her for this decision to this day.
Despite the fact that the girls have the same body, their characters are simply strikingly different. They argue all the time! For example, about what they will wear today, because each of them has their own style! They buy clothes in the most ordinary stores, then simply alter them at home. For example, for jackets and sweaters you have to make another neck.
Residents of the city of New German already know the girls and are quite friendly towards them. It’s a little more difficult when appearing in new places. Many people try to come up and touch or take pictures. Girls, of course, can be noticeably nervous, but they have a unique ability to quickly get rid of negativity and enjoy life.
Abby simply loves coffee and can drink liters of it, unlike Brit, whose heart begins to race even from a cup of coffee.
Each girl controls an arm and a leg on her side. They learned this from childhood and act quite harmoniously! They swim, run, play volleyball, ride a bike, and even drive a car!!! Isn't that really worthy of praise?
Each of them has their own driver's license. “They stop us very rarely - the girls share. “And we immediately begin to argue about who was driving the car at the moment and whose license needs to be shown!” They also have two passports - the sisters love to travel!
Now Abby and Brit work at school, teaching mathematics. Moreover, they managed to get a job right away. But they only receive the same salary for both of them. Children have become accustomed to them and treat them with understanding, admiring their perseverance and determination.
Abigail and Brittany Hensel are conjoined twin sisters living in Minnesota, USA. By the age of 23, they had proven to themselves and the whole world that being in one body and controlling only “their” half, they could lead an absolutely normal, active life. Abby and Brittany graduated from college, traveled the world, drive cars, got jobs, and seem to have nothing to complain about.
Anatomy and physiology
Abigail and Brittany are dicephalic dibrachius parapagus, in other words, they are conjoined twins who share one body, two heads, two arms and two legs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXE3i1rsmwQGiven that girls have two hearts, separate lungs, two stomachs, one liver, one reproductive system and each of the twins is responsible for only one side of the body, they subconsciously (with childhood) have perfectly learned to coordinate the movements of the common body. This is proven by a video of girls driving a car. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciIzQghNNpI
The twins’ friend Kari admires the twins’ teamwork: “They are two different people who have the amazing ability to work together smoothly, performing basic movements together. For example, I never think about performing these movements, and every day I take them for granted.”
The girls have different heights: Abby (1m 57cm) is 10cm taller than her sister (1m 47cm). Because their legs are also different lengths, Brittany has to stand on her toes to maintain balance.
Their bodies react differently to coffee. Brittany's heart starts beating faster after two cups of coffee, Abby's heart doesn't react to caffeine. They have different body temperatures. And each of the girls feels touch only to her half.
“I can have a completely different temperature,” says Abby, “very often we feel that when our palms touch, they are different temperatures - I become hot very quickly.”
Geminis know each other so well that they very often say the same thing or finish each other's sentences. Doctors explain this by the fact that in some places they nervous system intersects.
However, there are a number of significant differences between them. For example, Brittany is afraid of heights, but Abby is not afraid. Abby is interested in math and science, Brittany prefers art.
Facts about conjoined twins:
- conjoined twins develop from one fertilized egg, so they are always the same sex and look very similar;
- conjoined twins are a very rare occurrence - 1 case in 200,000 births;
- 40-60% of conjoined twins are stillborn. Female twins survive more often than males;
- it is unknown why the embryo did not complete the process of dividing into two identical twins;
- Despite medical advances, surgical separation of such twins is very rare.
Socialization
Like many 23-year-olds, Abby and Brittany love spending time with friends. They play volleyball, go hiking and go to parties. There is nothing they can deny themselves. They have their own page on social networks: https://www.facebook.com/AbigailAndBrittanyHensel
Recently, Abigail and Brittany Hensel took part in the reality show Abby and Brittany, which aired on TLC on August 28, 2013. The television show follows Abby and Brittany's lives since graduating from university and focuses on the job search process and the girls' travels across Europe. The trip overseas was organized for the girls as a gift for graduating from university: http://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/abby-and-brittany
“Everywhere they go, everyone stares at them,” say the twins’ friends. Abby Hensel, in an interview with People magazine, explains that they have long been accustomed to increased attention from others. “We just ignore this fact,” Abby notes.
Education and career
As Bethel University graduates, Abby and Brittany are trying to find teaching jobs. junior classes in mathematics.
And although they have two licenses that give them the right to carry out teaching activities, the financial issue is considered somewhat differently. “It's pretty clear that we're going to get one paycheck because we're going to be doing one person's job,” Abby says.
“As we gain experience, we will probably return to this issue, since we have two degrees, and we offer two different approaches to training - one can explain new material while the other one can keep order and answer questions,” says Brittany, “so in that sense we are doing the work of two.”
Shopping
“We definitely have different clothing preferences,” Abby says. “Brittany prefers a neutral or even formal style, while I prefer something more fun, bright and colorful.”
Abby always wins the debate about what clothes to wear. Brittany is sure that, despite the colorful outfits, her sister is very much like a homebody, while she prefers to spend more time outside the home.
Difficulties of “living together”
Despite the fact that girls live a normal family and social life, study and work like any other young people, there are a number of issues that they prefer not to discuss. Such questions include the question of their personal life. Abby and Brittany deny rumors that Brittany was engaged, calling the rumors a "ridiculous joke." Brittany once said in a television interview that she and Abby wanted to become mothers, but “haven’t figured out how to do it yet.”
Traveling to another country is also not an easy test for them. They have two passports, but one plane ticket because they occupy one seat.
They also always need to be careful in public - very often they become the subject of unwanted photos. The twins' close friend Erin Junkans emphasizes that girls are always on guard because they are never exactly sure how others will react to their appearance and what they might say or do. “I have to make sure they are safe at all times. I always watch how the girls react to the crowd,” Junkans says. “In a number of cases, when the attention on them exceeds the acceptable limit, we are forced to leave the place, and they amaze me with their ability to just shrug it off and continue to do what we came to this or that place for.”
Was surgery possible?
Any operation to separate conjoined twins is a very complex and often dangerous medical procedure. In the case of Abigail and Brittany Hensel, it was a risk that the girls' parents were not willing to take due to fears that the twins would not survive or that their quality of life after surgery would be significantly different from the quality of life they have today.
Challenge to fate
Today, Abigail and Brittany Hensel are defying fate. They became the 12th pair of conjoined twins to reach adulthood. Mom Patty Hansel says her hopes for her daughters' futures are no different from those of other children: “We decided to do reality TV because it's fun. Besides, we have nothing to hide - you can see who we are and how we live - just like other people. Like any mother, I want my children to be successful, happy and healthy people. They're happy and successful, and that's exactly what I want."
Abby says: “It's really funny to see people say, 'Wow, they can do what we do, they have friends, and they're always busy. What we do is normal, and our lives are no different from the lives of other people.”
Today Abby and Brittany start adult life. They want to enjoy every day and are not going to make far-reaching plans for 10 years in advance.
Working as teachers in a primary school, they not only became an example for their students in academic terms, but also a life example - a living example of overcoming difficulties and gaining the opportunity to live a full life in one body.
“I don't think there's anything they can't try if they really want to,” says Paul Goode, the principal at Abby and Brittany's school. “And the most important thing is that they can teach children a lesson in survival, especially those children who are currently on the verge of difficulties and experiences - only a living example can teach the real struggle for a decent life.”
