Abigail
and Brittany Hensel took their first breath in 1990 as a pair of twins. These
twins were a little different from others – They were conjoined. The rare case
of conjoined twins caught them in a lot of limelight. They share a body but
have different heads. Ever since their birth, their story has been covered by
several magazines and media houses worldwide.
What are Conjoined Twins?
Conjoined
twins are two babies born physically and connected to each other. They develop
when an early embryo only partially separates to form two individuals. Although
two fetuses develop from the same embryo, they remain connected at the
different parts of their bodies, at the pelvis, abdomen, and chest. Conjoined
twins may as well share one or more internal organs.
Many
conjoined twins are not alive when born or stillborn. Some of them even die
shortly after their birth. But the recent advancements in medical science have
improved their survival rates. The doctors may perform surgeries to separate
their bodies from each other.
The
parents of Abby and Brittany gave a cold shoulder to this suggestion as it was
risky. The sisters have become the most famous conjoined twins worldwide. They
first appeared on television at the famous Oprah Winfrey Show. Back then,
they were only six years old, trying to coordinate their shared body.
Here’s everything to know about the twin
sisters.
Early
Life of Abby and Brittany Hensel
Abigail,
also known as Abby, and Brittany were born in 1990 in Minnesota and were raised
by both parents in the same city. They graduated from the Mayer Lutheran High
School in 2008. Afterward, the conjoined twins attended Bethel University in
Arden Hills, Minnesota. They majored in their education from the said
university.
The
twins became college graduates by 2012 and entered the next and essential phase
of their lives – their adulthood.
The
sisters share many vital organs, including a bladder, an enlarged liver, a
diaphragm, digestive systems, reproductive systems, and intestines. Each twin
controls one arm and one leg that requires a lot of cooperation to complete
their day-to-day tasks like running, walking, or driving a car. They were found
saying that their body has been divided by a red line. One controls the left,
and the other controls the right. They need to work together to be able to move
properly.
The
First TV Appearance
The
world first saw Abby and Brittany in 1996, when the renowned celebrity, Oprah
Winfrey invited them to her show. The little girls talked about their school
life and shared other details of their daily routine.
They
were also seen in several documentaries – Joined for Life, Extraordinary
People: Twins Who Share a Body, and Abby and Brittany: Living in One Body, to
name a few. Both the females used the medium of these documentaries to talk
about their daily lives and how they learn to live fulfilling lives having
different interests and passions. Abby loves solving math, while Brittany is a
born writer and is often seen penning down notes in her diary.
From
Twins to Famous Celebrity Twins
The
twins lived their early life unnoticed by many. It was only a few articles and
news segments that highlighted their condition and made this medical condition
the topic of discussion. It was during their teen life that both the girls
became famous. Many people looked forward to knowing about them in detail.
After
the success of that one episode on the Oprah Winfrey Show and several
television documentaries, the twin sister made a big announcement. They
introduced their own reality show, Abby and Brittany, on TLC. The
8-episode show aired in 2012 and earned the twins a great fan base. So many
people continued to love and admire the liveliness of both the sisters. The
series documented the life events of both the sisters, like graduating their
college, traveling to Europe, and finding their first job. Unfortunately, the
show didn’t last long and went off-air.
Where
are the Hensel Sisters Now?
In
many ways, the conjoined twins were seen enjoying a perfectly normal life. They
attended school, graduated college, and were highly social. They have a
supportive family and friends. Managing everyday life together and overcoming
the challenges that it throws is not a problem anymore for them. They even
passed their driver’s license test together and played sports during their
college days.
As
of now, the 31-year-olds live a quiet life in their hometown. It was reported
that they work as teachers at a school.
Their
school principal was quoted saying both Abby and Brittany are a great source of
inspiration to young children. Before they secured jobs as teachers, the
supervisor of the school asked their students to react honestly to the pair.
The students reportedly said that both the teachers are a part of their
classroom.
The
supervisor also mentioned that both the sisters offer a unique learning
experience to the students, something that the other teachers in the school
cannot provide. According to him, “There’s no question in my mind that
they will really change the world for the better and influence lives in ways
that those lives myself as one person never really do.”
The
school principal employed the sisters because of their qualifications and
ability to inspire the students to work hard to fulfill their dreams. According
to him, “I don’t think there’s anything that they won’t try or something
that they couldn’t be able to do if they really wanted to. To bring that to
children, especially kid who might be struggling, that’s very special, that’s
learned through lived example”.
In
general, the twins have been pretty open and vocal about their trials and
tribulations in front of the media. However, there is one thing at which they
prefer sealing their lips. According to them, their love life is private and
their privacy should be respected by the media.
Abby
and Brittany are real rock stars who have proved that no matter how hard life
is, there’s always a way out. Their story is inspiring for one and all. We wish
them the best life ahead.
Stay
in touch for more stories.
Post a Comment