The popular conjoined twins, Abby and Brittany live in Minnesota, USA, where they work as fifth-grade teachers at Sunnyside Elementary, in New Brighton.
Born on March 7, 1990, the American-conjoined twins became famous after they starred in an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, in 1996. Although they were born with one of the rarest types of the condition medically known as Cephalopagus, they have overcome several challenging situations in life and are currently living a fulfilled and happy life. Read on for more information on one of America’s longest-surviving twins.
Who are Abby and Brittany Hensel?
Abigail Lorraine Hensel and Brittany Lee Hensel are American conjoined twins famously known as one of the longest-living conjoined twins in the world. They were born on March 7, 1990, and are currently 34 years old. Their mother, Patty Hensel, is a registered nurse, while their father, Mike Hensel is a carpenter and landscaper.
The twins spent the bulk of their childhood in New Germany, Minnesota, in the company of their parents and younger brother and sister.
How are Abby and Brittany Conjoined?
Upon their birth, Abby and Brittany were identified as dicephalic parapagus twins. A rare type of conjoined twins who have separate heads, but share other parts of their body. As a result, they are highly symmetric as they share the same body, with no obvious distinct variation. However, the similarities are mostly physical, as they have different organs. Each of the sisters has a heart, stomach, spinal cord, spine, and a pair of lungs.
Abby and Brittany have different heads and necks but are connected from the torso downward. They initially had a rudimentary arm which was attached to a shoulder blade at their back. However, the arm was later removed surgically, leaving just the shoulder blade. Their chest is wider than that of the average person.
Abby’s head leans out about 5 degrees to the right, while Brittany’s head tilts sideways to the left at about 15 degrees. As for their height, Abby is 5 feet 2 centimeters tall, while Brittany’s leg is about 2 inches shorter, making her 4 feet 10 inches tall. Consequently, Brittany always has to stand on her tiptoes and this makes her calf visibly more pronounced than Abby’s.
Each of Abby and Brittany’s Body Parts Function Independently
Each of the twins controls one side of their body and although they can function independently of each other, they need to coordinate their efforts to engage in collaborative tasks like walking, driving, playing the piano, playing volleyball, and typing on the computer. Each sister’s sense of touch is restricted to her body half and while they have different stomachs, stomach aches are only felt by the adjoining twin.
Furthermore, Abby and Brittany have been able to thrive through the issues associated with their complicated nature. As teenagers, they each passed their written and practical driver’s tests and can drive perfectly with premium collaboration. After their high school education, they pursued a degree in Education at Bethel University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2002.
When responding to emails, the twins type and respond as one and can easily complete each other’s sentences with little verbal communication. They employ the pronoun “I” when they agree on a point, but use their names when their opinions vary.
Did the Conjoined Twins Abby and Brittany get Separated?
The conjoined twin sisters never got separated. Shortly after their birth, their parents considered surgically separating them so they could each live their lives independently of the other. However, they had to abandon the idea after their doctors told them that the chances of the girls living normal lives as separate individuals would likely be lesser than what they have as conjoined twins.
After they grew up, the girls stuck with their parents’ decision and haven’t taken any steps towards separating from each other. However, Abby had to undergo surgery to halt the continuous growth of her spine after Brittany prematurely stopped growing. Additionally, the twins also went through surgery at the Gillette Children’s Specialty Hospital when they were 12 years old. This was to correct scoliosis and widen their chest cavity to avert any future breathing difficulty.
Did Brittany and Abby Hensel Get Married?
Although they have never been married or openly discussed their romantic life, the pair share a dream of getting married one day and becoming proud moms. It is also not unlikely for conjoined twins to get married, from what we know, it has happened before with Chang Bunker and Eng Bunker, Siamese, American conjoined twin brothers. The brothers married Adelaide Yates and Sarah Yates who are both sisters in 1843.
Are Conjoined Twins Abby and Brittany Pregnant?
Abby and Brittany are not pregnant and have not really disclosed what goes on in their romantic lives as either individuals or as co-joined twins. But being that they have made known their dreams of becoming moms one day known, we might likely see them pregnant soon.
Did the Conjoined Twins Have a Baby?
Abby and Brittany do not have a baby yet. However, they have expressed their desire to get married one day in the future and thereafter become mothers. But for now, they do not have a baby and it is not known if they are already making plans to have one soon.
Where are the Conjoined Twins Now?
The popular conjoined twins Abby and Brittany currently live in Minnesota, where they work as fifth-grade teachers at Sunnyside Elementary, in New Brighton. Although they have embraced their unique personalities and are trying to live a normal life, Abby and Brittany are constantly faced with trying challenges.
According to them, one of the most challenging things about being conjoined twins is the invasion of their personal lives by strangers who are always staring at them and trying to take pictures and videos of them without their consent. The twins love to keep a low profile and have been significantly away from social media since 2015.
FAQs About Conjoined Twins
Can conjoined twins be different genders?
No, conjoined twins cannot be different genders. They always have the same sex, because they are from the same fertilized egg, and sex is determined during egg fertilization.
Can There be Three Conjoined Twins?
There have been rare cases of conjoined triplets. However, the chances of the triplets surviving during pregnancy and after birth are minimal.
Do conjoined twins sleep at the same time?
Although it is medically recommended, conjoined twins do not always sleep at the same time. One twin could be sleeping while the other is awake and, possibly, crying.
Which conjoined twins separated in 2023?
Conjoined twin sisters Ella Grace and Elizabeth Faith Fuller were separated on June 14, 2023, about three months after they were born.
What happens when one conjoined twin dies?
When one conjoined twin dies, the surviving twin is likely to follow. There is a chance of saving the living twin within a few hours after the dead twin’s heart stops beating. However, the chances of successfully separating the living twin from the dead one are very minute.
