For the past 29 years, the unique conjoined twins Abigail and Brittany Hensel have lived full lives like everyone else, despite their physical disabilities and unusual appearance.
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Abigail and Brittany were born to the shock of both their parents and doctors
Abigail and Brittany were born on March 7, 1990, in Minnesota. Their birth shocked their parents, doctors, and the medical community worldwide. Throughout the pregnancy, Abigail and Brittany’s parents had many ultrasounds and found nothing abnormal; they were hoping for a healthy baby girl.
In the days following the birth, the mother of the two girls felt something strange when the doctor refused to let her see her children. When both mother and children’s health stabilized, the doctor decided to allow them to meet. Fortunately, although surprised, Abigail and Brittany’s parents didn’t panic and readily accepted their daughters, contrary to the doctor’s earlier fears.
Abigail and Brittany were born amidst the shock of both their parents and the doctors.
Their lives hung by a thread. Statistics show that only one in 30 million conjoined twins survives. The internal organs of these cases often cease functioning within 24 hours of birth. Despite the doctors anticipating the worst-case scenario, the sisters created a miracle, living healthy lives like normal children for many years, supporting each other.
The two girls’ parents did everything they could to ensure their daughters didn’t feel inferior and could live normal lives like other children, preventing anyone from using them for experiments, even to predict their future health and development. Despite their physical disabilities, they still went to school and had friends.
The unique ‘shared’ life of the two girls
Abigail and Brittany share a single body with two heads, two legs, two arms, two spines, three lungs, two hearts, one liver, two stomachs, three kidneys, one circulatory system, and one set of genitals. Their anatomical system remains unique to this day, and doctors still don’t fully understand how their bodies function.
The two sisters learned to coordinate and synchronize their movements skillfully.
Each sister can only control her own body parts and cannot sense the other’s touch. For example, Abby wouldn’t feel anything when Brittany held someone’s hand, and vice versa. However, from a young age, the girls learned to synchronize their movements and coordinate their actions. Everything was so perfect that they easily learned to play the piano, swim, ride bikes, and play sports together.
Scientists believe that the sisters share neural connections that no other human body possesses. This is why they are able to read each other’s thoughts. Furthermore, their bodily needs are synchronized: when Abby wants to drink, Brittany is thirsty.
One body, two developmental tendencies, two personalities, two interests, and almost two lives.
As they grew older, Abigail and Brittany’s bodies developed more and more problems. At age 12, Abby began to grow very rapidly, her spine expanding so quickly that it threatened to break the sisters’ shared rib cage. Doctors had to slow Abby’s growth to save them. Once, Abby contracted pneumonia while Brittany remained healthy.
The extraordinary 29-year life of the world’s most famous conjoined twins: One body, two personalities, and two lives – Photo 3.
Abigail and Brittany have different personalities and interests, but they always know how to compromise.
Not only do their shared bodies have many differences, but their personalities are also completely different. Abby is an introverted girl who likes to spend evenings at home, enjoys giving orders, and suffers from acrophobia (fear of heights). Meanwhile, Brittany is quite quiet and likes to hang out with friends. Abby likes purple, while Brittany likes yellow.
Even their food tastes are different: Abby hates milk, but Brittany doesn’t; instead, she hates meat and fish. They also have arguments and fights, but they quickly reconcile or make up afterward.
At school, the twins always take separate tests. Their test scores were always different, and neither of them would cheat. Abby excelled in natural sciences while Brittany leaned toward the humanities.
The extraordinary 29-year life of the world’s most famous conjoined twins: One body, two personalities, and two lives – Photo 4.
The two sisters both worked as elementary school teachers but taught different subjects.
University was an extremely challenging test for the Hensel sisters. However, they overcame their unconventional student life brilliantly. Although both chose elementary education because of their love for children, each was a stranger to the world.
