As identical twins, Abigail and Brittany Hensel were born in 1990. Because they were conjoined, these twins were a little unique from the others. They received a lot of attention due to the unusual occurrence of conjoined twins. They have distinct heads but the same body. Their story has been featured in numerous periodicals and media outlets worldwide since the time of their birth.

What are Conjoined Twins?

Two newborns that are physically linked to one another are known as conjoined twins. They arise from the incomplete division of an early embryo into two people. While developing from the same embryo, two fetuses maintain their connection at the pelvis, abdomen, and chest, among other sections of their bodies. It is possible for conjoined twins to share one or more internal organs.

Many conjoined twins are stillborn or die at birth. A few of them even pass away soon after delivery. However, their survival rates have increased due to recent developments in medical science. To physically separate their bodies from one another, the doctors might have surgery.

This plan was met with resistance from Abby and Brittany’s parents, who felt it carried too much risk. The sisters are now the most well-known conjoined twins in the entire globe. They made their broadcast debut at the renowned Oprah Winfrey Show. When they were six years old, they were attempting to synchronize their shared body.

Here’s everything to know about the twin sisters.

Early Life of Abby and Brittany Hensel

Hensel Abigail, referred to as Abby, and Brittany were reared in the same city by both of their parents after being born in Minnesota in 1990. In 2008, they received their diploma from Mayer Lutheran High School. The conjoined twins afterwards enrolled in Bethel University located in Arden Hills, Minnesota. They majored in education at the aforementioned university.

By 2012, the twins had graduated from college and were moving into the next, crucial stage of their lives: adulthood.

Numerous essential organs are shared by the sisters, such as the intestines, reproductive systems, bladder, enlarged liver, and diaphragm. To perform daily activities like walking, running, or operating a car, the twins must work together to control one arm and one leg. When they were discovered, they claimed that a red line had split their bodies. The left is governed by one, and the right by the other. For them to move correctly, they must cooperate.

The First TV Appearance

The world first saw Abby and Brittany in 1996, when the renowned celebrity, Oprah Winfrey invited them to her show. The little girls talked about their school life and shared other details of their daily routine.

They were also seen in several documentaries – Joined for Life, Extraordinary People: Twins Who Share a Body, and Abby and Brittany: Living in One Body, to name a few. Both the females used the medium of these documentaries to talk about their daily lives and how they learn to live fulfilling lives having different interests and passions. Abby loves solving math, while Brittany is a born writer and is often seen penning down notes in her diary.

From Twins to Famous Celebrity Twins

The twins lived their early life unnoticed by many. It was only a few articles and news segments that highlighted their condition and made this medical condition the topic of discussion. It was during their teen life that both the girls became famous. Many people looked forward to knowing about them in detail.

After the success of that one episode on the Oprah Winfrey Show and several television documentaries, the twin sister made a big announcement. They introduced their own reality show, Abby and Brittany, on TLC. The 8-episode show aired in 2012 and earned the twins a great fan base. So many people continued to love and admire the liveliness of both the sisters. The series documented the life events of both the sisters, like graduating their college, traveling to Europe, and finding their first job. Unfortunately, the show didn’t last long and went off-air.

Where are the Hensel Sisters Now?

In many ways, the conjoined twins were seen enjoying a perfectly normal life. They attended school, graduated college, and were highly social. They have a supportive family and friends. Managing everyday life together and overcoming the challenges that it throws is not a problem anymore for them. They even passed their driver’s license test together and played sports during their college days.

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. Before they secured jobs as teachers, the supervisor of the school asked their students to react honestly to the pair. The students reportedly said that both the teachers are a part of their classroom.

The supervisor also mentioned that both the sisters offer a unique learning experience to the students, something that the other teachers in the school cannot provide. According to him, “There’s no question in my mind that they will really change the world for the better and influence lives in ways that those lives myself as one person never really do.”

The school principal employed the sisters because of their qualifications and ability to inspire the students to work hard to fulfill their dreams. According to him, “I don’t think there’s anything that they won’t try or something that they couldn’t be able to do if they really wanted to. To bring that to children, especially kid who might be struggling, that’s very special, that’s learned through lived example”.

In general, the twins have been pretty open and vocal about their trials and tribulations in front of the media. However, there is one thing at which they prefer sealing their lips. According to them, their love life is private and their privacy should be respected by the media.

Abby and Brittany are real rock stars who have proved that no matter how hard life is, there’s always a way out. Their story is inspiring for one and all. We wish them the best life ahead.

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