31 years ago, Abby and Brittany Hensel
Abby and Brittany Hensel
Abigail Loraine Hensel and Brittany Lee Hensel are American conjoined twins, specifically dicephalic parapagus twins. They are highly symmetric for conjoined twins, giving the appearance of having a single body without marked variation from normal proportions. Each has a separate heart, stomach, spine, pair of lungs, and spinal cord.
Are Brittany and Abby still conjoined?
Abigail Loraine Hensel and Brittany Lee Hensel (born March 7, 1990) are American conjoined twins. They are dicephalic parapagus twins (having two heads joined to one torso), and are highly symmetric for conjoined twins, giving the appearance of having a single body without marked variation from typical proportions.
Where are Abby and Brittany now?
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.
Did the conjoined twins Brittany and Abby get married?
Contrary to the rumours about Abby and Brittany Hensel wedding that have been circulating, the conjoined twins are not yet married. Both of them are hopeful that they will one day have their perfect love story. The conjoined twins have expressed an interested in dating, getting married, and even having children.
What happened to the Hensel twins?
Where Will They Work? After much deliberation, Abby and Brittany decided that they would both attend Bethel University in Minnesota, the state where they were raised. After four years of hard work, the twins graduated in 2012 with two Bachelor of Arts degrees.
Are Abby and Brittany Hensel pregnant?
Yes, they can. Are Abby and Brittany Hense pregnant? Again, rumors are crazy and have been circulating in the media. However, the conjoined twins are not having a baby anytime soon because none of them is pregnant.
What happens if conjoined twin dies?
Eric Strauch, a pediatric surgeon at the University of Maryland Hospital for Children, says simply, "They die." Once the dead twin's heart stops, he adds, the "blood stops pumping, the vessels dilate, and the conjoined twin will essentially bleed into the dead twin.
Can female conjoined twins get pregnant?
Of all the female conjoined twin sets either documented by medical authorities or referenced in ancient literary sources, in only one case were pregnancy and delivery successfully achieved by the conjoined twins themselves.
How do conjoined twins use the bathroom?
In some cases, conjoined twins might have a bathroom built specifically to accommodate them. But some may be aided by using bedpans to allow them to go to the bathroom in any required position.
How long do conjoined twins live?
This number could be higher, but most of these pregnancies result in miscarriages and still births; only 18% of all conjoined infants survive (2), and approximately 35% of live births die within the first 24 hours, and only 18% of all conjoined twins survive longer than 24 hours.
How old are Brittany and Abby Hensel?
Today, the 31-year-olds lead a quiet life in their hometown. According to VTC News, the twins work as fifth grade teachers at a school.
Has there ever been conjoined triplets?
America's miracle babies. Mackenzie and Macey made national news as infants. Though they and Madeline were born as triplets, Mackenzie and Macey were conjoined, sharing a pelvis and a third leg—a set of circumstances that is incredibly rare.
Did Veena and Vani get separated?
So far, only 59 such surgeries have taken place worldwide, according to AIIMS. Separation surgeries for two other sets of craniophagus twins – Vani and Veena from Hyderabad and Saba and Farah from Patna – have been planned in the past in India, but the attempts were abandoned because the risks were too high.
How old are the Hensel twins?
Today, the 31-year-olds lead a quiet life in their hometown. According to VTC News, the twins work as fifth grade teachers at a school.
How long do conjoined twins live?
This number could be higher, but most of these pregnancies result in miscarriages and still births; only 18% of all conjoined infants survive (2), and approximately 35% of live births die within the first 24 hours, and only 18% of all conjoined twins survive longer than 24 hours.
Can conjoined twins have babies?
Of all the female conjoined twin sets either documented by medical authorities or referenced in ancient literary sources, in only one case were pregnancy and delivery successfully achieved by the conjoined twins themselves.
How did Chang and Eng have children?
while sharing one (reinforced) bed. The walls in Chang and Eng Bunker's bedroom would have had some tales to tell, if walls could talk. Their marital bed was built for four — brothers Chang and Eng in the middle and their wives on either side. Between them, they conceived some 21 children in that bed.
Abby and Brittany Hensel Become Famous
After leading most of their early life out of the spotlight aside from a few articles and news segments looking at their lives, the Hensel twins became well known during their teen years.
What Are The Hensel Twins Up To Now?
In the years since their TLC show came to an end, Abby and Brittany Hensel have mostly disappeared from the public eye. In fact, as of this writing, it has been more than six years since the last time the Hensel Twins posted on their shared Instagram account.
What did Abby and Brittany want to study?
The siblings have their individual choices in almost everything, including what they want to study. Abby was interested in maths and Brittany in English. Once they were accepted into Bethel University, they came to a compromise. The twins decided to follow their shared passion for education.
Why are Brittany and Abby not on social media?
Abby and Brittany don’t seem to be too active on social media, which is because a lot of people stare at them, making the conjoined twins uncomfortable. However, they have come a long way and live happy lives together, as you can see from this post. https://www.instagram.com/p/QA4pEpGn_n/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link.
Did Brittany and Abby have to be separated?
Abby and Brittany would have had to be separated right after birth. In fact, doctors suggested the procedure, when they saw the conjoined twins being born. However, the process might have meant the death of one sibling. Therefore, Patty and Mike, their parents, refused.
Did the twins take their driving test twice?
However, they are seen as two different individuals, which means they have double the paperwork. The twins had to take their driving test twice, and you can see them celebrating by holding up two licenses below.
Do Brittany and Abby have kids?
Both Abby and Brittany have hopes of finding their happy endings with the person of their dreams. In an interview, the twins expressed an interest in going out, getting married, and even having children. The twins are confident about having their perfect love story, and that there are two guys out there who will be suitable for this unique ...
When did Abby and Brittany start?
The twins starred in the reality TV show Abby & Brittany that started in August 2012. Abby and Brittany: Joined for Life was shown by the BBC in the UK in May 2013, and covers the period from their finishing college to starting a part-time teaching job.
Where did Abby and Brittany go to college?
Together they control the steering wheel . They both graduated from high school in 2008. They began college at Bethel University in Arden Hills, Minnesota, majoring in education.
How old are Brittany Lee Hensel and Abigail Loraine Hensel?
Abigail Loraine Hensel and Brittany Lee Hensel (born March 7 , 1990 ) are American conjoined twins. They are dicephalic parapagus twins (having two heads joined to one torso), and are highly symmetric for conjoined twins, giving the appearance of having a single body without marked variation from typical proportions. Each has a separate heart, stomach, spine, pair of lungs, and spinal cord .
Why did the parents not want to separate the twins?
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 that the quality of life for the surviving twin or twins living separately would be less than their quality of life as conjoined people.
When did the Hensel twins appear on Oprah?
The twins appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on April 8 and April 29, 1996. During the same month, they were featured on the cover of Life under the caption "One Body, Two Souls", and their daily lifestyle was described in the article, "The Hensels' Summer". Life followed up with another story in September 1998.
What does Abby like about Brittany?
When it comes to getting dressed, Abby tends to favor bright, colorful looks. On the other hand, Brittany has a more muted look. This also has to do with their personalities! It makes sense that because Abby likes brighter colors, she is also the more outspoken of the pair!
How are Brittany and Abby different?
There are other ways that Abby and Brittany Hensel are different as well! For example, Brittany has a fear of heights! This is not something that Abby shares. In addition, Brittany tends to like art classes more. In contrast, Abby tends to like hard sciences, such as biology.
How Did Abby and Brittany Hensel Learn How To Drive?
Of course, many people were curious about how Abby and Brittany Hensel learned how to drive a car. They both had to sit for the exam separately. In fact, each twin has her own driver’s license even though they have to drive a car together!
What did Abby and Brittany Hensel want to show their viewers?
Even though the world watched with amazement, Abby and Brittany Hensel wanted to show their viewing audience that they lived a life that was just like everyone else’s even though they are never able to physically separate from one another. They enjoyed showing the world what they do. Advertisement.
How many hearts does Brittany Hensel have?
For instance, the upper body has a separate pair of organs for each twin despite their appearance. This means that their bodies have two stomachs, two hearts, and four lungs.
Is Brittany Hensel a conjoined twin?
Born in Carver County, MN, doctors discovered that they were not only conjoined twins but incredibly rare, even for conjoined twins. Abby and Brittany Hensel are dicephalic parapagus twins. Advertisement. This means that they each have one head and an entirely unified body.
Who are Abby and Brittany Hensel?
Abby and Brittany Hensel are conjoined twins who have mystified the world for the past 30 years. Defying all the odds to purely survive to this day, they have been kind enough to share their journey with the world. Now, they have released an announcement that left the world stunned.
Overview
Physiology
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.
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 ne…
Background
The twins were born in Carver County, Minnesota, to Patty, a registered nurse, and Mike Hensel, a carpenter and landscaper. They have a younger brother and sister. They were raised in New Germany, Minnesota, attended Mayer Lutheran High School, in Mayer, and graduated from Bethel University, in St. Paul, in 2012.
Adulthood
Dicephalic parapagus twins rarely survive into adulthood.
As teenagers the twins both passed their written and practical driver's license 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 steering wheel. They both graduated from high school in 2008 an…
Media appearances
The twins appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on April 8 and 29, 1996. During the same month, they were featured on the cover of Life under the caption "One Body, Two Souls", and their daily lifestyle was described in the article, "The Hensels' Summer". Life followed up with another story in September 1998. In 2002, they appeared in Joined for Life, a TV documentary by Advanced Medical Productions, distributed on the Discovery Health Channel and a 2003 follow-up, Joined a…
External links
• Abby Hensel at IMDb
• Brittany Hensel at IMDb