169:. Each twin controls one arm and one leg. When they were infants, learning to crawl, walk, and clap required cooperation. They can eat and write separately and simultaneously. Activities such as running, swimming, hair-brushing, playing piano or volleyball, riding a bicycle, or driving a car require coordination.
257:
Abby's head tilts laterally outward about 5 degrees to the right, while
Brittany's tilts laterally at about 15 degrees to the left, causing her to appear shorter even when seated. Brittany's leg is nearly two inches shorter than Abby's, and Brittany tends to stand and walk on tip-toe which has made
466:
so that they have two separate necklines, in order to emphasize their individuality. They usually have separate meals, but sometimes share a single meal for the sake of convenience. For tasks such as responding to email, they type and respond as one, anticipating each other's feelings with little
426:
Upon their birth, the twins' parents decided not to attempt surgical separation after hearing from doctors that it was unlikely that both would survive the operation. As the twins grew and learned to walk and develop other skills, their parents confirmed their decision against separation, arguing
272:
They cooperatively use their limbs when both hands or both legs are required. By coordinating their efforts, they walk, run, swim, play volleyball and the piano, and ride a bicycle normally. Together, they can type on a computer keyboard and drive a car. However, Abby, at 5 ft 2 in
253:
The twins have a single body with separate heads and necks, a chest that is wider than average, two arms, and two legs. At birth, they had a rudimentary arm between the bases of their necks attached to a shoulder blade at the back. It was removed, leaving the shoulder blade.
446:
exams separately because, although driving requires coordination between them, state law required that they each be licensed. Abby controls the devices on the right side of the driver's seat; Brittany, those on the left. Together they control the
478:
in 2006 at the age of 16, they said that they hoped to date, get married, and have children. They also stated that they hoped that by providing some information about themselves, they would be able to lead otherwise fairly typical social lives.
258:
her calf muscle significantly larger than Abby's. The continued growth of Abby's spine was surgically halted after
Brittany prematurely stopped growing. At age 12, they underwent surgery at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare to correct
459:, Minnesota, majoring in education. They had considered pursuing different concentrations within that major, but the volume of extra coursework was prohibitive. They each graduated with Bachelor of Arts degrees in 2012.
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273:(1.57 m), is taller and longer of leg than Brittany, who is 4 ft 10 in (1.47 m) and their disparate heights caused difficulty in balancing a
1369:
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285:
The twins have individual organs in the upper part of their body, while most of those at and below the navel are shared, the exception being the spinal cord.
1195:"Article: Shared Lives: From the types of joining to separation surgeries, the issues around [sic] conjoined twins are varied and complex"
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Each twin manages one side of their conjoined body. The sense of touch of each is restricted to her body half; this shades off at the
269:, so that there is a small amount of overlap at the midline. Stomach aches, however, are felt only by the twin on the opposite side.
1349:
760:
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1120:"Joined for life - co-joined six-year-old Hensel twins share many body parts: includes a related article on a set of sextuplets".
1194:
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They intensely dislike being stared at or photographed by strangers while going about their private lives. In interviews for the
636:
452:
238:
107:
572:
in the UK in April and May 2013 and covers the period from their finishing college to starting a part-time teaching job.
510:
under the caption "One Body, Two Souls", and their daily lifestyle was described in the article, "The
Hensels' Summer".
188:
in
December 2006, discussing their daily lives and future plans. They starred in their own reality television series,
483:
146:
121:
1088:
541:. ABC TV also did a documentary called "Joined for Life". A UK television special in 2005 was part of the series
337:
4 lungs with the medial lungs moderately fused, not involving
Brittany's upper right lobe; three pleural cavities
30:
431:
for the surviving twin or twins living separately would be less than their quality of life as conjoined people.
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2 arms (originally 3, but the rudimentary central arm was removed, leaving the central shoulder blade in place)
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1102:"Conjoined Twins Abby and Brittany Hensel Share Video of Wedding Dance with Abby's Husband Josh Bowling"
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761:"Abby Hensel, Brittany Hensel Reality Show: Conjoined Twins Star In TLC's 'Abby And Brittany'"
630:
615:
551:, that discusses their adolescence, school, social life, and activities such as getting their
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266:
1171:
973:"Vaginal delivery of dicephalic parapagus conjoined twins: case report and literature review"
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The two became teachers in 2013, and as of 2024 they continue to teach fifth grade at
1328:
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on April 8 and 29, 1996. During the same month, they were featured on the cover of
471:
is to use "I" when they agree, and to use their names when their responses differ.
412:
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117:
1089:"Conjoined twins opened up on what their life was like after becoming teachers"
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In 2003, an updated story of them at age 11 (filmed in 2001) was published in
463:
383:
226:
896:
718:
884:"Hensel Twins Life Update: Inside the Adult Lives of Famous Conjoined Twins"
514:
followed up with another story in
September 1998. In 2002, they appeared in
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222:
202:
150:
996:
1065:
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that was shown in the US from August to
October 2012 It was shown by the
1310:
1301:
1286:
518:, a TV documentary by Advanced Medical Productions, distributed on the
158:
1030:"Minnesota's Abby and Brittany Hensel, conjoined twins, make Newsweek"
405:
379:
293:
451:. They both graduated from high school in 2008 and began college at
910:"Conjoined Twins With 2 Heads & 1 Body Get Reality Show on TLC"
334:(nutrition, respiration, and medicine taken by either affects both)
172:
The twins' lives have been covered in the popular media, including
735:"Conjoined twins 'Abby & Brittany' get their own reality show"
344:
with well coordinated involuntary breathing, slight central defect
154:
1250:, Advanced Medical Productions, 2006, accessed November 11, 2012
1153:, Advanced Medical Productions, 2003, accessed November 11, 2012
1139:, Advanced Medical Productions, 2002, accessed November 11, 2012
442:
As teenagers the twins both passed their written and practical
262:
and to expand their chest cavity to prevent breathing trouble.
569:
229:. They have a younger brother and sister. They were raised in
1320:"How Do Conjoined Twins Teach a Class? | Abby and Brittany"
439:
Dicephalic parapagus twins rarely survive into adulthood.
580:
Documentaries and other television appearances include:
149:(having two heads joined to one torso), and are highly
34:
547:. In 2006, Advanced Medical made another documentary,
233:, Minnesota, attended Mayer Lutheran High School in
467:verbal communication between them. Their choice of
113:
103:
65:
58:
1365:Participants in American reality television series
320:and traces of bridging ribs. Surgery expanded the
490:, Minnesota. In 2021, Abby married Josh Bowling.
1282:Extraordinary People: The Twins Who Share a Body
721:, Sunnyside Elementary. Retrieved March 21, 2024
665:Extraordinary People: The Twins Who Share a Body
800:"New TLC Docu-series Centers on Bethel Alumnae"
8:
1247:Joined for Life: Abby & Brittany turn 16
549:Joined for Life: Abby & Brittany turn 16
462:Some of the twins' clothes are altered by a
1059:Schrobsdorff, Susanna (February 23, 2008).
714:
712:
710:
18:
1261:Joined for Life: Abby and Brittany Turn 16
737:. Yahoo!TV. August 9, 2012. Archived from
647:Joined for Life: Abby and Brittany Turn 16
356:1 liver, enlarged and elongated right lobe
201:Since 2013, the two have been teachers in
55:
971:Harma, M.; Oksuzier, C. (February 2005).
780:
778:
776:
729:
727:
277:, as shown in their 2012 reality series.
582:
24:This is an accepted version of this page
1193:Piccolo, Cynthia M. (August 22, 2004).
1164:"ABC TV Documentaries: Joined For Life"
933:
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300:by sections of ribs. Surgery corrected
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1370:People from Carver County, Minnesota
1355:Bethel University (Minnesota) alumni
1028:Hoffman, Kevin (February 28, 2008).
316:1 broad ribcage with 2 highly fused
51:American conjoined twins (born 1990)
938:Wallis, Claudia (March 25, 1996).
786:Abby and Brittany: Joined for Life
141:(born March 7, 1990) are American
49:
1170:. March 27, 2003. Archived from
237:, Minnesota, and graduated from
153:for conjoined twins. Each has a
363:, with slightly spastic double
1224:"Abby & Brittany Hensel".
1091:, UNILAD.com, January 25, 2023
635:Advanced Medical Productions,
1:
1061:"Reality's Believe It or Not"
656:Advanced Medical Productions
637:American Broadcasting Company
849:"The Twins Who Share a Body"
789:, BBC, accessed May 21, 2013
1345:21st-century American women
184:. They were interviewed on
1391:
899:, BBC News, April 24, 2013
389:3 kidneys: 2 left, 1 right
147:dicephalic parapagus twins
1230:(television series). UK:
897:"Living a conjoined life"
886:, Ask.com, March 18, 2022
853:mymultiplesclerosis.co.uk
558:The twins starred in the
408:, which converge distally
217:, Minnesota, to Patty, a
1350:American identical twins
940:"The Most Intimate Bond"
520:Discovery Health Channel
292:2 spines merging at the
60:Abby and Brittany Hensel
31:latest accepted revision
213:The twins were born in
1266:July 12, 2007, at the
611:King World Productions
605:The Oprah Winfrey Show
522:and a 2003 follow-up,
501:The Oprah Winfrey Show
498:The twins appeared on
307:2 completely separate
181:The Oprah Winfrey Show
135:Abigail Loraine Hensel
96:New Germany, Minnesota
73:Abigail Loraine Hensel
330:2 hearts in a shared
221:, and Mike Hensel, a
165:, pair of lungs, and
1271:from Figure8Films.tv
1234:. November 21, 2007.
1227:Extraordinary People
989:10.1620/tjem.205.179
859:on November 11, 2013
544:Extraordinary People
484:Sunnyside Elementary
186:The Learning Channel
122:Sunnyside Elementary
1174:on October 12, 2012
1013:Abby & Brittany
952:on February 8, 2005
832:Abby & Brittany
685:Abby & Brittany
565:Abby & Brittany
400:reproductive organs
191:Abby & Brittany
139:Brittany Lee Hensel
76:Brittany Lee Hensel
21:Page version status
1205:on August 25, 2004
1126:. October 4, 1996.
1040:on January 3, 2012
977:Tohoku J. Exp. Med
769:. August 11, 2012.
661:February 19, 2007
643:December 17, 2006
469:grammatical person
332:circulatory system
296:and joined at the
281:Organ distribution
27:
1137:"Joined For Life"
741:on August 9, 2012
698:
697:
631:Discovery Channel
616:Harpo Productions
553:driver's licenses
494:Media appearances
476:Discovery Channel
453:Bethel University
411:1 slightly broad
267:midsagittal plane
239:Bethel University
132:
131:
108:Bethel University
39:10 September 2024
1382:
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1272:
1257:
1251:
1244:Hutchison, Rob.
1242:
1236:
1235:
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1212:
1210:
1201:. Archived from
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680:August 28, 2012
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562:reality TV show
444:driver's license
404:2 separate half-
322:pleural cavities
219:registered nurse
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1360:Conjoined twins
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1311:Brittany Hensel
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1268:Wayback Machine
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1150:Joined at Birth
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1110:, June 14, 2024
1100:Haward, Jenny.
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626:Joined for Life
622:March 27, 2003
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516:Joined for Life
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372:large intestine
367:at the juncture
361:small intestine
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895:Wallis, Lucy.
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882:Fitch, Kimmy.
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804:www.bethel.edu
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91:(age 34)
89:March 7, 1990
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1209:December 23,
1207:. Retrieved
1203:the original
1198:
1188:
1178:December 23,
1176:. Retrieved
1172:the original
1167:
1158:
1149:
1144:
1132:
1121:
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1083:
1071:. Retrieved
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1044:December 23,
1042:. Retrieved
1038:the original
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956:December 23,
954:. Retrieved
950:the original
943:
918:. Retrieved
913:
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863:December 23,
861:. Retrieved
857:the original
852:
830:
807:. Retrieved
803:
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743:. Retrieved
739:the original
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595:Produced by
592:Distributor
586:First aired
579:
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488:New Brighton
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352:gallbladders
309:spinal cords
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126:New Brighton
120:teachers at
53:
38:
29:This is the
23:
1375:Sister duos
1335:1990 births
1302:Abby Hensel
1015:, Episode 4
835:, Episode 3
719:"Directory"
576:Filmography
457:Arden Hills
365:peristalsis
231:New Germany
167:spinal cord
145:. They are
128:, Minnesota
118:Fifth-grade
1329:Categories
1168:abc.net.au
983:(2): 182.
701:References
675:One North
464:seamstress
422:Separation
347:2 stomachs
249:Physiology
227:landscaper
209:Background
85:1990-03-07
1232:Channel 5
914:Heavy.com
809:March 29,
745:August 9,
435:Adulthood
427:that the
398:1 set of
359:Y-shaped
342:diaphragm
327:2 breasts
302:scoliosis
260:scoliosis
245:in 2012.
223:carpenter
203:Minnesota
198:in 2012.
151:symmetric
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1264:Archived
1066:Newsweek
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920:April 5,
318:sternums
243:St. Paul
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394:bladder
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1107:People
1073:May 4,
995:
589:Title
417:2 legs
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382:, and
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298:thorax
294:coccyx
275:Segway
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155:heart
1315:IMDb
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1075:2014
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945:Time
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670:Five
538:Life
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384:anus
225:and
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137:and
66:Born
1313:at
1304:at
985:doi
981:205
691:TLC
652:TLC
570:BBC
560:TLC
486:in
455:in
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124:in
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