It is rare for twins conjoined the way that Abby and Brittany are to survive into adulthood, but despite this they are in good health, without heart defects or organ failure. While they were born with three arms, one was removed surgically.Īlthough Brittany - the left twin - can't feel anything on the right side of the body and Abigail - the right twin - can't feel anything on her left, instinctively their limbs move as if co-ordinated by one person, even when typing e-mails on the computer. They have two spines (which join at the pelvis), two hearts, two oesophagi, two stomachs, three kidneys, two gall bladders, four lungs (two of which are joined), one liver, one ribcage, a shared circulatory system and partially shared nervous systems.įrom the waist down, all organs, including the intestine, bladder and reproductive organs, are shared. The Hensel girls are the rarest form of conjoined twins, the result of a single fertilised egg which failed to separate properly in the womb. Just one set of twins in every 40,000 is born connected in some way to each other and only 1 per cent of those survive beyond the first year. It has not been unknown, however, for the twins to go out in a specially made top with two different necklines - to reflect their unique tastes - and leggings with each leg a contrasting colour and a different shoe on each foot. Speaking back then, Brittany said: 'Believe me, we are totally different people.' The Hensels are believed to be one of only a few sets of dicephalus twins in history to survive infancy, and when they turned 16, they allowed the cameras into their fiercely guarded private world to share this milestone in their lives. The Daily Mail first introduced the Hensel twins 16 years ago, when they were six years old, and now their latest escapades show the dramatic progress they have made into early adulthood. People around them do not find anything strange about their condition.Feat of teamwork: The girls passed their driving test on their 16th birthday, with each twin using one arm to control the steering wheel For the items that they are disagreeing, they revert to using their names in the third person. When in agreement, they use the term ‘I’. When it comes to communicating, you will be amazed at how coordinated the twins are.
What is outstanding about them though is that they have this excellent ability to understand what the other one wants, which makes it easier for them to work together. They are known to have different tastes in food and style. Just because they have to do everything together does not necessarily mean that they agree on each and everything. Well, if you thought the life of the conjoined twins Abby and Brittany is interesting, you have not heard about their mental capacity.
It appears impossible for most people, but again, this is what makes them sisters perfectly unique. The two can even swim, ride a bike, run, and even drive. With years of practice, they have perfected the skill of working as a team.
Basically, Abby Hensel and Brittany Hensel share everything below the pelvis.īlue skinned people: Interesting details about the blue Fugates of Kentucky They were born with a small arm between them, which was removed. The two are two different girls with different bodies but joined at the ribcage. Each of the girls has her own spine, pair of lungs, and a stomach. However, the two are not only similar, but they also have their own differences. Even so, they share almost everything else including the torso, legs, reproductive organs, the pelvis, as well as other internal organs. Getting to Know the Abby and Brittany HenselĪbby and Brittany are a unique pair considering the fact that they each have their own heads. The Hensel twins have the most interesting story because of their choice to live life fully despite the challenges they have been through. Many will remember them from their show titled Abby & Brittany, on TLC, which first aired in 2012. The two are conjoined twins who have been willing to talk about their condition publicly. Abby and Brittany Hensel have made news for years because of their physical and unique medical conditions.