Abby and Brittany Hensel have been captivating audiences since they were born conjoined twins
in 1990.
Now, the sisters are again making headlines with their latest career move, leaving fans
stunned and amazed.
Despite their unique challenges throughout their lives, Abby and Brittany have always
lived their lives to the fullest, defying expectations and inspiring others along the
way.
In this video, we'll explore the inspiring story of the Hensel sisters and the exciting
new job that has left fans in awe.
Anatomy
Abigail and Brittany Hensel, born on the 7th of March, 1990, are a remarkable pair of American
conjoined twins who have captured the world's attention with their unique physical attributes
and incredible resilience.
As dicephalic parapagus twins, they possess two heads seamlessly united with a single
torso, creating an unusually symmetrical appearance for conjoined siblings.
This extraordinary fusion results in a body that closely mirrors typical human proportions,
despite the presence of two distinct personalities and sets of internal organs.
Each sister is equipped with her own vital organs, including a heart, stomach, spine,
pair of lungs, and spinal cord.
This arrangement allows them to maintain separate yet interconnected lives within their shared
body.
Remarkably, Abigail and Brittany have developed the ability to control one arm and one leg
each, necessitating a profound level of cooperation and coordination in order to accomplish even
the most basic tasks.
The Hensel twins, who share a single body, are truly extraordinary in their physical
composition.
They have distinct heads and necks, a chest that is broader than average, a pair of arms,
and two legs.
When they were born, an undeveloped arm connected to a shoulder blade was situated between their
necks.
This appendage was eventually removed, leaving only the shoulder blade in place.
Abby's head leans slightly 5 degrees to the right, while Brittany's head angles more noticeably
at 15 degrees to the left.
This has caused Brittany to appear shorter, even when sitting.
Brittany's leg is almost two inches shorter than Abby's, which has led her to walk and
stand on her tiptoes, resulting in a noticeably larger calf muscle compared to her sister.
Abby's spinal growth was intentionally halted through surgery after Brittany's growth ceased
prematurely.
At 12 years old, the twins underwent an operation at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare
to address scoliosis and expand their chest cavity to avert potential respiratory issues.
Each sister manages one side of their conjoined body, with their sense of touch restricted
to their respective halves.
There is a minor overlap at the midline, but stomach aches are only experienced by the
twin on the opposite side.
The Hensel twins have learned to collaborate seamlessly when using their limbs, enabling
them to walk, run, swim, play volleyball and piano, and ride a bicycle with remarkable
ease.
They can also type on a computer keyboard and drive a car together.
However, their differing heights – Abby standing at 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) and Brittany
at 4 ft 10 in (1.47 m) – have created challenges in balancing on a Segway, as demonstrated
in their 2012 reality series.
Upon their birth, the twins' parents decided against surgical separation after being informed
by doctors that the likelihood of both surviving the procedure was slim.
As the girls grew and learned to walk and develop other skills, their parents remained
steadfast in their decision.
They believe that the twin(s) who survive would have a lower quality of life if they
were to live independently than they do now as conjoined persons.
Individuality
Abby and Brittany are extraordinary twins who share a single body, yet they retain their
individuality in various aspects of life.
Although they have learned to navigate life with a shared torso, it doesn't mean everything
comes easily, especially in matters as personal as dating.
The sisters have been notably private about their dating lives, but they have expressed
their desire to marry and start a family someday.
Abby shared with The Daily Mirror that they are going to be moms one day but don't want
to talk about how it's going to work yet.
The twins emphasize their independence and wish to maintain their privacy.
Brittany added that the whole world doesn't need to know who they are seeing, what they
are doing, or when they are going to do it.
Contrary to social media rumors, Brittany is not married or engaged.
The sisters lead a quiet life, away from the media spotlight and without social media accounts.
She also emphasized how completely different she is from her sister.
As Abby and Brittany are both medically and legally recognized as separate individuals,
administrative tasks can be more complex than one might imagine.
Throughout their education, they each completed their own coursework, took individual SATs,
and applied to college separately.
They also require individual passports for travel but only need to purchase a single
plane ticket, as they occupy just one seat.
Both sisters had to take separate driving tests and hold individual driving licenses.
Despite sharing a body, Brittany and Abby possess their own brains, thoughts, and emotions.
They have spent every moment of their lives together, understanding each other better
than anyone else ever could.
As a result, they share a unique connection, often finishing each other's sentences, yet
they can still hold two separate conversations simultaneously.
This skill proves particularly useful when answering students' questions in the classroom.
Though conjoined, Brittany and Abby celebrate their distinct personalities and individuality.
They often have their clothing custom-tailored for special occasions, ensuring that the neckline
fits comfortably for each twin.
Given Brittany's shorter stature compared to Abby, this is a more comfortable solution.
Occasionally, they wear pants with slightly different colors on each leg, allowing each
sister to express her personal style.
While they are the best of friends, their unique personalities, interests, and life
goals set them apart as two remarkable women.
Making it into adulthood Navigating adulthood as dicephalic parapagus
twins is no small feat, making Abby and Brittany's journey truly remarkable.
These extraordinary twins defied the odds, as such twins rarely survive into adulthood.
As teenagers, they successfully passed both their written and practical driver's license
exams separately.
Despite the necessity for coordination while driving, state law required individual licenses.
Abby operates the controls on the right side of the driver's seat, while Brittany manages
those on the left, and they share control of the steering wheel.
In 2008, both sisters graduated from high school and went on to attend Bethel University
in Arden Hills, Minnesota.
They pursued a major in education, initially considering different concentrations within
the field.
However, the substantial volume of additional coursework deterred them, and they ultimately
graduated with Bachelor of Arts degrees in 2012.
The twins are mindful of their individuality, often having their clothes altered by a seamstress
to create two separate necklines.
While they typically enjoy separate meals, they occasionally share one for convenience.
When tackling tasks like responding to emails, they type and respond in unison, intuitively
anticipating each other's thoughts with minimal verbal communication.
Their choice of grammatical person reflects their agreement or disagreement, using "I"
when they concur and their names when they differ.
Abby and Brittany dislike being the center of attention or being photographed by strangers
during their daily lives.
In 2006, at the age of 16, they participated in interviews for the Discovery Channel, expressing
their hopes to date, marry, and have children.
By sharing some personal information, they aimed to foster a sense of understanding and,
in turn, lead relatively normal social lives.
In 2013, the sisters embarked on a teaching career, and as of today, they continue to
teach fifth grade at Sunnyside Elementary in New Brighton, Minnesota.
Media appearances The extraordinary Hensel twins have captured
the interest of the public over the years, appearing on numerous television shows and
documentaries.
On April 8 and 29, 1996, they were featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
That same month, they graced the cover of Life magazine with the headline "One Body,
Two Souls," accompanied by an article titled "The Hensels' Summer" that described their
daily life.
Life published a follow-up story in September 1998.
In 2002, the twins were the subject of "Joined for Life," a TV documentary produced by Advanced
Medical Productions.
It aired on the Discovery Health Channel, followed by a 2003 sequel, Joined at Birth.
An updated account of their lives at age 11 (filmed in 2001) was published in Time magazine
and later in Life.
ABC TV also produced a documentary titled "Joined For Life."
The Hensel twins were featured in a 2005 UK television special as part of the Extraordinary
People series.
In 2006, Advanced Medical produced yet another documentary, "Joined for Life: Abby & Brittany
Turn 16," which explored their teenage years, schooling, social life, and milestones such
as obtaining their driver's licenses.
In August 2012, the twins starred in their own reality TV show, Abby & Brittany.
The BBC in the UK aired "Abby and Brittany: Joined for Life" in May 2013, chronicling
the period from their college graduation to the start of their part-time teaching careers.
Throughout these appearances, Abby and Brittany have continued to inspire and captivate audiences
around the world.
Hobbies Abby and Brittany have displayed exceptional
talent in volleyball.
Their passion for the sport began in elementary school, and they even took on coaching roles
as they completed high school.
Though education became their primary focus during college, the twins still managed to
participate in intramural volleyball games.
Like their siblings, Abby and Brittany have always embraced active lifestyles.
In addition to volleyball, they played softball throughout their childhood.
The coordination of their two brains has proven to be more beneficial than hindering in sports
for the Hensel twins.
Among their numerous impressive accomplishments, their ability to play the piano has astounded
Abby and Brittany's doctors the most.
Mastering the piano is a challenging feat for anyone, let alone conjoined twins who
must navigate the complexities of mental and physical coordination.
As each twin controls a single arm, their piano-playing ability demands extraordinary
synchronization skills.
They must press the correct keys at the precise moment and maintain a consistent rhythm in
harmony with each other, showcasing their incredible teamwork and coordination.
There you have it.
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