Stories of Siamese twins in our time. One life for two without anguish and tragedies: happy Siamese twins. The Galion brothers: the oldest twins

02.06.2022

According to statistics, several hundred Siamese twins are born every year on the planet (this is about one case for every 200 thousand newborns). Why this happens is an unsolved mystery of nature.

Who are they and why are they called that?

Siamese twins are two children born by fused different parts of the body.

According to the laws of intrauterine development, such children are always identical (that is, two fetuses develop from one fertilized egg) and, accordingly, always of the same sex (mainly female).

In newborns, there are both joint organs for two, and an individual organ complex for each, while fusion can be in any part of the body.

It is the presence of "their own" organs and body parts that determines the possibility of a prompt separation of the couple later.

Each case is always unique.

The Siamese twins got their name from the birthplace of the first famous pair of boys in 1811. It happened in the city of Siam (now Thailand).

Reasons for being born

Scientists and physicians still cannot say exactly how such developmental anomalies are obtained.

Theories and assumptions are put forward that the blame for everything:

disorders at the genetic level;
interaction of a pregnant woman with poisons, toxins or drugs;
negative impact of environmental factors;
prolonged depression and nervous breakdowns of the expectant mother (the version appeared after a laboratory experiment with monkeys);
late birth (after 40 years, the risk of pathologies increases);
diseases of the reproductive system of a woman before and during childbearing (opinion of embryologists);
closely related marriages of parents (the version is based on statistics of perfect marriages in the world and children born - for example, in Asian countries, fetal malformations are most observed).

Usually, after fertilization, a normal egg actively divides and divides.

In the case of identical embryos, separation should occur on the 5th day of development. But if it doesn't happen before the 13th day, then it stays that way. Subsequently, two fruits develop, interconnected.

That is why it is so important for women in the first trimester of pregnancy to meticulously monitor their diet, not get sick and lead the most healthy and sparing lifestyle.

Types of splicing

Several types of connection of Siamese twins have been identified. Each type of fusion has its own scientific definition.

Heads (craniopagi) and faces

Fusion of children with skulls, but with separate normally developed bodies. Happens in 2% of cases.

craniopagi

In this form, operational separation is feasible, but carries a high risk of death, since there is brain damage.

Polycephali (multi-headed)

A phenomenon in which there are 2 or 3 heads with 2-4 arms on one body.

Polycephalus (dicephali)

Pelvis (ischio-omphalopagi) and sacrum (pygopagi)

When children are connected by spines, and look like the letter Y. They have 4 arms, 2 or 3 legs. In this type, a feature is a common system of excretion and reproduction, so it is impossible to separate them.

pygopagi

Backs (Iliopagi)

This is an fusion of the abdominal cavities, backs and buttocks. It occurs in 19% of the total number of "Siamese".

Heliopagus

Heads and backs (cephalothoracopagi or craniothoracopagi)

When there is a connection of heads and bodies. These children are not viable.

Cephalothoracopagi

Thoracic cage (thoracopagi) and cartilage of the sternum (xiphopagi)

When fused twins face each other and are connected by the chest. They have common organs (one heart, lungs), which makes separation impossible. Pathology occurs in 40% of cases.

Thoracopagus

Breast and abdomen in the lower part (omphalopagi)

A type of fusion where each child has its own heart, but the liver, diaphragm, and digestive system are shared. It is this fusion that is most successfully operated with a certain training of specialists. This anomaly was recorded in 34% of such pathologies.

Omphalopagi

Sideways (parapagi)

With this form, the organs of the chest and abdominal cavities, as well as the heart, can be modified (or be one for two). It occurs in 5% of Siamese twins.

parapagi

Spine (ischiopagi)

Connection in the lower parts of the bodies and fusion with vertebral columns rotated 180 ° to each other. It is noticed in 6% of the described cases.

Siamese twins can live in their original state for a long time. However, the term and quality of life directly depends on the type of fusion, the presence of normally developed organs and body systems.

If the twins live in a fused state (when doctors or parents decide not to carry out an operative separation) and can move independently, live like normal people, then, as a rule, everything goes well for them. They go to school, get an education, find work, start families and have children.

Some Siamese twins become famous. There are many examples of this (sisters with one body and 2 heads - Abby and Brittany Hensel, brothers connected by the chest - Chang and Eng, long-lived brothers from the Guinness book - Ronnie and Donnie Galion, craniopagi sisters Lori and Reba Shpappel).

However, all movements are not easy for such people and they have to learn to control their bodies for years. In the presence of a common nervous system, the most difficult thing is to coordinate their movements, since each of the twins is able to sense only part of the body.

But, having the desire to "live like everyone else", they are able to learn how to ride a bike and drive a car, play musical instruments.

Relationships of different characters also turn out to be difficult (they also conflict, swear, reconcile and take offense at each other).

When health problems arise, both suffer. But the symptoms of the disease appear first in one person, and after a few hours or days in the second.

But the most difficult thing for the “Siamese” is their perception by others. Due to frequent medical examinations, they are forced to travel a lot to medical organizations and change their place of residence. And frequent changes in the situation and environment do not always mean a cordial and understanding attitude of neighbors.

Separation

If Siamese twins are born, then the first desire of the parents is their separation with the preservation of the life of both babies. But this is not always possible.

Each case is considered by a council of specialists, after which parents are informed about all the risks and their consent is taken:

If the bodies of the twins are formed anatomically correctly (symmetrically), there is a necessary complex of organs, and the state of health is normal, but there is an fusion through skin tissues, then the outcome of the operation is more likely to be positive.
In other cases, doctors have to observe a shortage of internal organs, limbs for two people or a strong interweaving of blood vessels and nerve fibers. And this greatly complicates the process of making a decision about the operation.
The most difficult is the surgical separation of twins connected by their heads. Because often they have one brain that cannot be separated.
If the twins are asymmetrical (that is, one is larger and stronger than the second and there is one organ complex), then the possibility of separation is considered in order to save the stronger twin. In this case, the second child becomes doomed to death in the operating room. If this is not done, then the natural death of the weak will entail the inevitable departure of the second person.

Increased risk of death due to large blood loss during surgery. And later, a number of necessary plastic surgeries, skin transplantation are coming.

Siamese twins are considered impossible to separate (with the survival of both):

with one common spine or fused of two;
with one set of vital organs (heart, lungs, digestive tract, brain, urinary system);
many-headed with one body.

Given all the possible risks, parents have to make the most difficult choice.

The consequences of an operative separation can be positive for both children, 50/50 (only one will survive), or negative for both.

This is followed by long-term rehabilitation, plastic surgery, prosthetics, the colossal work of doctors, relatives and, of course, decent financial expenses.

From a medical point of view, the operation will be considered successful if at least one of the twins survives. To date, successful outcomes are observed in 65-80% of cases.

If you leave everything in its original form, then the couple's chances for a long life become even less. Most Siamese twins do not live up to 1 year due to pathologies in the development of organs.

Another evidence suggests that the mortality rate of unseparated twins is much higher than that of operated twins. If surgical separation is not carried out in a timely manner, then severe disorders develop, and the risk of a successful outcome of the operation decreases significantly and sometimes reaches the impossible.

When possible?

It is impossible to answer this question unambiguously. Only after a complete in-depth and comprehensive study of the state of health of newborn Siamese twins, the community of doctors determines the optimal time for the operation.

The theory is logical that it is necessary to do this at an early age in the phase of active growth of organs and the skeleton.

When was the first?

The first successful separation operation took place in 1689. The German surgeon Koenig separated a pair of twins fused at the waist.

But modern microsurgery does not stand still. Recent years have been marked by the fact that it became possible to separate craniopagus and children with one heart.

So, in February 2007 in Bangkok, for the first time in the world, the separation of 9-month-old sisters, fused with hearts and liver, took place. Previously, no one was able to perform a similar operation with a successful outcome and survival of both girls.

How is the operation going?

After a long examination of the health status of both children, doctors determine the sequence of actions by gathering a council of different specialists.

Using modern technology, doctors resort to creating a 3D model of the operated area to visualize what they will encounter in the operating room.

If necessary, skin flaps are grown in advance, which will cover large defects. So, for example, it is done with fusion by the stomachs. During preliminary operations, a medical implant is inserted under the skin, and over time, the skin is stretched, this excess is then useful in the process of separating children to create new bellies. The implants are then removed.

The separation operation usually involves several dozen surgeons, anesthesiologists and junior medical personnel, as well as a mass of special equipment for instantaneous observation. Duration - from 7 hours or more.

Operation steps:

introduction to anesthesia;
incisions of the skin and underlying tissues;
stop minor bleeding by coagulation;
further, depending on the type of fusion (penetration into the chest / abdominal cavity is carried out, the cranium is opened, areas of fusion of the skeleton are exposed);
unraveling and distribution of organs between twins;
separation of blood vessels and nerve fibers;
layer-by-layer wound closure;
suturing and drainage;
transfer to intensive care.

Who was successfully separated?

Notable cases in recent years of successful separation of "Siamese" with the survival of both children:

Ezabel and Abby Carlson were born with joined bellies and mixed organs. A 12-hour operation with 17 surgeons was completed successfully in May 2006. After 10 years, the sisters look like ordinary children, lead an active lifestyle, do gymnastics and do not differ from their peers.
Jadon and Anias McDonald, head fused. They were operated on by more than 60 doctors in 2016 at the age of 1 year and 1 month. After 2 years, the kids are actively growing and developing. True, one of the brothers is limited in movement, the second is not much different from his peers, but the parents believe in a brighter future, not doubting their decision.
Anna Grace and Hope Elizabeth Richards tummy tucked. Were successfully operated on at Texas Children's Hospital on January 13, 2018. The babies were 1 year old at the time of the operation. 75 medical workers participated. The girls are currently being actively rehabilitated.
Conner and Carter Maribal, Siamese brothers with the same stomach, liver and intestines (fused bellies). Successfully separated in Florida in 2018, although doctors' predictions were only 25% for success. Nevertheless, the separation took place, one-year-old babies are alive and recovering.

The most famous Siamese twins

Due to their peculiarity, some couples, in an attempt to arrange a decent life and financial stability for themselves, chose to engage in public activities, gave interviews to various media, went to work in a circus, and became Guinness book record holders. Why they became quite recognizable personalities all over the world and gained many friends and fans.

How many people in the world?

Accurate statistics are not kept, but according to approximate estimates, about 600 pairs of born Siamese twins have been recorded in the world.

Abroad

Abroad, the appearance of Siamese twins has not caused negative outbursts of public opinion for a long time. Many conjoined twins, on the contrary, strive to talk about their uniqueness, urging them to be perceived as normal people, and not to be outcasts of society.

Sisters from America Abigail and Brittany Hensel

Dicephalic twins were born with a single body, but a double set of internal organs and two heads. Each of the sisters feels and controls only half of the torso.

Thanks to loving parents, the girls grew up cheerful, got an education, learned to live independently, drive a car (each of them independently passed the exam for a driver's license).

Having received a teacher education (2 diplomas), Abby and Brittany work as teachers and receive two salaries. They are not afraid of the public and are happy to meet with journalists for interviews. On March 7, 2019, the girls will be 29 years old.

Zita and Gita Rezakhanov

Sisters - ischiopagi from Kyrgyzstan, who had 2 bodies, 3 legs and one pelvis for two, were born in 1991.

The girls were separated only at the age of 12 at the Filatov Moscow Children's Hospital under the supervision of the media and the head of Chechnya, who provided financial assistance.

12 years after the separation, Zita died of multiple organ failure. The Gita is developing normally. After graduating from high school, she went to study at a Muslim college.

The first Siamese twins in history are brothers, after whom the very name "Siamese" appeared. They were born in 1811 in the city of Siam (Thailand) with fusion of the thoracic cartilages.

The brothers lived a long and happy life, performed in the circus, gained worldwide fame, got married and became fathers of many children (10 healthy children for one and 11 for the second).

They approached the doctor with a request for separation, but were refused. At the age of 63, Chang contracted pneumonia and died in his sleep. Eng, waking up and finding his deceased brother, also died due to intoxication after 3 hours.

Jody and Mary

The girls were born in England in 2000, fused at the pelvis, but Jodie was more developed, while Mary was anatomically completely dependent on her sister.

Doctors spent a long time persuading the parents to make a separation and save Jody's life. Mary, according to the medical opinion, had no chance of survival.

If no action was taken, the sisters would be doomed to an early death.

Parents could not make a difficult choice. But the court intervened in the situation (medics opened a legal case) and forced him to perform the operation.

As a result, the separation was successful for Jody, and, after 19 years, the girl feels great. And in her family, another sister, Rose, is growing up.

Iranian craniopagus sisters named Ladan and Lale Bijani were born in 1974.

From birth, the sisters were very different in character. With age, their interests and hobbies diverged. Each dreamed of their profession and place of residence. But they were forced to choose legal activity. Once educated, Ladan and Lale worked as lawyers.

The fused occipital bones caused a lot of discomfort. Dreaming all their lives about separation, they asked doctors about it many times. The refusal was due to high risks.

But only in 2002, a team of 28 doctors (famous and experienced surgeons) performed a 2-day continuous operation and the girls were separated. However, due to heavy blood loss, the sisters did not live even a few hours. They were buried separately, and their birthday was called "Hope Day".

Siamese twins from England were born back in 1908, united in the gluteal region. They had one pelvis and shared blood circulation.

Immediately after giving birth, their mother (barmaid) sold the children to her employer. The woman, strictly raising Daisy and Violetta, prepared a circus future for them (taught dancing and singing) in order to improve her financial situation.

From an early age until the age of 23, they performed in public, generating income for their guardians. Having received "freedom", the sisters worked in vaudeville. They died during an influenza epidemic at the age of 62 with a difference of several days.

Two Irish boys - thoracopagi, were born in 2010. The children had all the necessary organs in pairs, the problems were only with the lower limbs. At the age of 4 months in London they were able to separate. Operated by 20 doctors within 14 hours.

Now each baby has 1 full-fledged leg and a partially formed second, but prosthetics can solve this problem. The parents of the kids are happy that the rehabilitation was very easy and fast. The boys helped each other, holding hands while still in the womb, and after the separation they do not want to be separated.

The famous long-lived Guinness World Record holders are parapagi (they have two torsos, paired arms and legs, two stomachs and two hearts, but everything is one from the sternum to the groin). They were born in 1951 in the USA, where they live to this day.

Having two different characters, the brothers are forced to exist together, since separation is impossible.

Their life is arranged quite comfortably. They are looked after by their younger brother, move at home on their own, and for long distances - in a special wheelchair.

For comfortable sleep at home, an individual steel bed is installed that can withstand their weight of 183 kg and allows the brothers to sleep in a sitting position. The most difficult thing, in their words, is the understanding of the inevitable death of both in the event of the death of one of them.

Krista and Tatiana Hogan

Unique craniopagus sisters were born in 2006 in Canada. They differ in the special structure of the common brain. Each girl has her own brain with a well-developed one hemisphere and at the same time connected by a bridge with the brain of her sister, which is why operational separation is considered impossible.

Twins are a real miracle for neuroscience, because they are able to feel and control each other. They move well, propping each other up, talking quickly, but they lag behind their peers in mental development.

Their large, loving family has signed a permit deal with National Geographic and Discovery to make a movie about their girls to help others who have the same problem.

Nothing threatens the health of the sisters, they grow and develop under the supervision of doctors and scientists.

Siamese sisters from Bohemia, born in a full-fledged family back in 1878. Their anomaly is an fusion in the pelvic part, one stomach and genitals.

The girls grew up with their mother, performed in public, thus providing for the family. They became famous for their virtuoso violin and harp playing, as well as their ability to dance, and with different partners. Despite different habits and characters, mutual understanding was the main feature of the relationship.

At the age of 28, Rosa, having fallen in love with an officer and married him, gave birth to a healthy son. The sister did not resist the desires of her sister, although she herself was also in love, but her fiancé died of an illness.

The idea of separation came to the women when Josef became ill with hepatitis. The doctors offered to save Rosa by separating before it was too late. But the sisters decided to leave this world together. What happened in 1922 with a difference of a quarter of an hour.

Sahu brothers

Indian brothers - Siamese twins Shivanath and Shivram Sahu - were born in a small village in a large family in 2001. The brothers have 2 legs and a connection at the waist facing each other.

Parents adore their sons and 5 more daughters. The boys struggled to walk, cycle to school and play croquet. However, they are great learners.

Only at the age of 12, doctors offered them separation, but the parents preferred to leave everything as it is, since the birth of such children is considered sacred. The family lives modestly, but very amicably.

In Russia and the USSR

In the Soviet Union, the authorities preferred to hide the appearance of unusual children with anomalies, and under pressure, parents were persuaded to abandon the babies, leaving them to their fate. Particularly persistent mothers did not succumb to persuasion and took the newborns, but they were forced to solve all the problems on their own.

Born on the New Year holidays of 1950, Maria and Daria were ischiopagus (fusion of the abdominal cavity and 3 legs). The tragic fate of the girls brought them many troubles.

The doctors of the maternity hospital first told the parents that the children died of pneumonia, later they justified themselves and showed the children. The mother ended up in a psychiatric hospital for 2 years, and the father was persuaded to agree to the "documentary death of his daughters" by signing the appropriate statement.

Masha and Dasha, who received a disability, were transferred to the Institute of Pediatrics for study, where for 7 years cruel experiments were carried out on them. Then they were transferred to a boarding school for the disabled. There the girls lived most of their lives.

Having difficulties in moving and losing one leg, Maria and Daria learned to walk with crutches.

The moment in their life was especially touching when, participating in the filming of the program, they first met their mother (the sisters were 35 at the time). But they only kept in touch with her for 4 years.

The cruel fate was reflected in the relationship of the sisters. As a result, they died in 2003. The cause of death was a heart attack in Maria's dream, while Daria passed away 17 hours later in the hospital.

Alina and Alisa Ignatieva

Siamese twins from Novosibirsk were born in May 2016, having a connection between their stomachs and one common liver. Since Alina was diagnosed with a heart defect, the separation operation was necessary, but carried a great risk.

Separation took place at the Filatov Moscow Clinic in the same 2016, but only Alice was saved.

After 5 months, the family reunited in their hometown. The girl grows up with two older brothers and loving parents.

Anya and Tanya Korkina

They were born on April 9, 1990 in the Chelyabinsk maternity hospital. The twins had an abdominal fusion with one liver for two. It turned out that even on the 6th month of pregnancy of the mother.

Since there was no experience of surgical separation of such twins in the USSR at that time, the risks were unpredictable. However, the girls' mother found a surgeon who performed a successful separation at the age of one month. Subsequently, he invented and patented his surgical method for the operation.

Many years later, adult full-fledged girls are always together. They were educated, participate in television programs and live with their mother in their native Chelyabinsk. Dad does not take part in their life, because he left the family after learning about the birth of special children.

Questions

Are they heterogeneous?

No, Siamese twins are always identical, and therefore of the same sex. And in 77% of cases - female.

How many live and how do they die?

The life expectancy of the "Siamese" is individual and depends on the anatomical features.

According to recorded data, most often without surgical intervention, children do not live up to 12 months.

The Gelion brothers, who were born in 1951 and live to this day, are considered centenarians.

The death of conjoined twins is very tragic: due to the illness and death of one person, the second is doomed.

The time of "slow dying" is estimated to be from 15 minutes to several days (based on known case histories). Separated people are no longer dependent on each other and can live long enough.

Have triplets been born?

Among people, there were no cases of the birth of spliced triplets. However, there is the term "tricephalus", which is supposed to be called double-fused triplets.

How many passports do these people have?

How many passports to issue is determined by the number of heads.

Usually two passports per couple.

Similarly with other necessary documents: education diplomas, driver's licenses, medical insurance.

Can they have children?

Yes, as history shows, Siamese twins can produce healthy babies. They can also be parents of many children if there is no anomaly in the development of the genital organs.

Siamese twins, like normally developed children, dream of a complete family and loving parents with whom they can overcome all obstacles and live a not always long, but bright and happy life.

Siamese twins are born in about one case in 200,000, and doctors are far from always qualified to separate them.

Siamese twins are a rare phenomenon that medicine is still studying. We recall the most sensational stories of brothers and sisters who were forced to share one body.

According to statistics, Siamese twins are born in about one case out of 200,000, and doctors are far from always qualified to separate them. Many of the brothers and sisters remain locked in one body for life. They have to negotiate with each other in order to at least try to build different destinies. In our new material, we have collected 14 of the most famous stories about Siamese twins who lived at different times.

Abby and Brittany Hensel

The Hensel sisters are perhaps the most famous Siamese twins of our time. Abby and Brittany are dicephalic twins: they have a common torso, two arms, two legs, two hearts and three lungs, but each controls their own half of the body. The sisters were born in 1990 in Minnesota, USA. Despite the difficulties, Abby and Brittany have mastered their bodies to perfection, learned to walk and are now trying to live a full life: they work, play sports, have hobbies. Medicine knows not so many cases of the birth of dicephalus, and the Hensel sisters were among the few who were lucky enough to survive.

Abby and Brittany stayed in their hometown, but from childhood they were surrounded by the attention of the press. In 1996, their story was shown on the Oprah Winfrey show, and in 2006 on The Learning Channel. During 2012, the Hensel sisters produced their own reality show. Parents taught the girls to believe in themselves, instilling in them the belief that they are capable of much. And they turned out to be right. In 2012, the sisters received a bachelor's degree, they both know how to drive a car. At the moment, Hensel work as teachers and receive one salary for two. In interviews, Abby and Brittany have repeatedly admitted that one day they dream of getting married and having children.

Anias and Jadon McDonald

Approximately 80% of Siamese twins born with fused heads do not live even a few years, but there are exceptions. In September of this year, the boys Anias and Jadon McDonald will turn three years old - at 13 months they underwent a 27-hour operation, during which the doctors managed to separate them. When the Western media announced in September 2017 that the brothers could finally return home after almost a year of rehabilitation, the public following the development of the story breathed a sigh of relief.

The mother of the twins found out about the pathology four months before the emergency caesarean section, in May 2015, but decided not to terminate the pregnancy, despite the persuasion of the doctors. Her love gave the twins strength - not only were they able to survive the long surgical intervention, but, to the surprise of many, they recovered faster than expected. At the moment, it is not known how the fate of the kids is developing, however, as it seems to us, in this case, the absence of bad news is already good news.

Shivanath and Shivram Sahu

The Sahu brothers were born in 2002 in a small Indian village, causing a stir among its inhabitants. The fact is that the twins were born with two torsos, four arms, but one pelvis and one pair of legs for two. Now matured Shivanath and Shivram no longer terrify others - some locals are even sure that the boys are the embodiment of a deity.

The Sahu brothers learned to control their bodies and cope with daily needs on their own. “We can do whatever is necessary. We ride a bike to school, and even playing cricket with friends is not a problem for us, ”Mail Online quotes the twins. By the way, the doctors offered Shivanath and Shivram to undergo a separation operation, but they refused. “We want to grow up as we are,” the boys said.

Ronnie and Donnie Galion

66-year-old Ronnie and Donnie are holders of two world records at once. They are the oldest Siamese twins in the world, not only at the moment, but throughout history. Their difficult life began in 1951 in the American city of Dayton. The birth of Siamese twins was a real shock for the mother - throughout her pregnancy, she did not know that she was carrying two children, not one. The Galion brothers spent the first two years of their lives in the hospital, after which the doctors came to a disappointing conclusion: it was impossible to separate them.

Ronnie and Donnie were not accepted by any school in the state, because of this, the brothers remained illiterate for life. However, they were able to earn a living, provide for their families and save up for housing without it. Since childhood, Galions have performed at fairs as a "live attraction" - people's inexplicable interest in physical mutation has provided them with fame and money. In 1991, the twins retired and moved into their own home. In 2009, Ronnie suffered a severe lung infection, but the brothers managed to cope with the disease, although it crippled their health.

Laurie and George Chappelle

Sisters Lori and Dori (the latter later changed her name) were born in the United States in 1961. Despite the fact that the twins are connected by their heads all their lives (one of them can only move with the help of a special chair), they were able to come to a compromise and live as independently from each other as possible. Almost immediately after the birth, the girls were abandoned by their parents, and for a long time they had to live in a boarding school. At 24, Laurie won the right to go to college through the courts.

In 2007, Dory, by then a well-known country singer with the pseudonym Reba (she did not like how her names rhymed with her sister), announced that she considered herself a man locked in a female body, and asked to call herself George from now on. Laurie was busy with her life - she was dating a guy, she was engaged for a while, she played bowling professionally, receiving several awards for this. The twins grew up with diametrically opposed characters, because of this they often argue about everyday trifles: for example, Chappelle live in a house with separate and differently furnished bedrooms, sleeping in one or the other room. However, this does not mean at all that mutual understanding is alien to them. George has been a long-term member of the Baptist church, and Dory, who is of another faith, readily helps her brother go to services.

Frankincense and Lale Bijani

The Bijani sisters, who have grown together with their heads, dreamed of separation all their lives, but, unfortunately, they could not look into each other's eyes. The girls were born in 1974 in Iran. During 1979, the sisters were abducted, and for a long time their relatives could not find them. As a result, the girls grew up in a foster family. Since childhood, Ladan and Lale had different dreams: one wanted to work as a lawyer, the other wanted to become a journalist. However, the Bijanis were forced to look for a compromise. As a result, the sisters entered the law school at Tehran University and successfully completed their studies.

In 1996, they went to Germany to ask doctors to separate them, but local specialists refused to take the risk. In 2002, the sisters came to Singapore, where they were invited by Dr. Keith Go. The neurosurgeon agreed to separate the twins, warning of high risks. The fearlessness of Ladan and Lale and their irresistible desire to live separately from each other resonated in the hearts of many people - journalists and the public froze in anticipation of the operation. Unfortunately, Bijani's dream did not come true: in 2003, they died on the operating table from blood loss with a difference of several hours. They were buried at home in different graves.

Clarence and Carl Aguirre

The fate of the Aguirre brothers is another example of a medical feat. The boys, joined at the top of their heads, were born in 2002 in the Philippines. A year later, the parents brought their sons to the United States in the hope of getting help from local medicine. For several months, doctors performed complex operations to separate the twins, the last of which was performed in August 2004. After making sure that the most dangerous interventions were successful, the American surgeon David Staffenberg told the mother of Clarence and Karl: "Now you have two sons."

After the operation, the boys needed a long rehabilitation course, and the Aguirre family received housing in America. The brothers still wear special helmets that protect the brain and try to catch up with their peers. Unfortunately, one of the boys is not developing as fast as his parents and doctors would like - he still has problems with movement and speech. But Clarence and Carl's mother, now raising them alone, does not regret her decision. “I did everything right,” she said in an interview.

Miracle and Testimoni Ayeni

In November 2016, babies from Nigeria with symbolic names - Miracle (Miracle) and Testimoni (Evidence) - began a new life. Siamese twins, fused at the hips and sharing the same intestine, were separated in a complex and dangerous operation in Memphis, USA. The Linking Hands Foundation helped pay for the surgery and rehabilitation of the parents.

The operation to separate the twins was successful, and they recovered very quickly. However, for several months they still had to remain under the supervision of doctors. A month after the procedure, happy parents talked to reporters and proudly told how quickly their daughters are recovering. “They eat whatever you give them and love cartoons,” the sisters’ mother said.

Chang and Eng Bunker

Chang and Eng are brothers born in 1811 in Siam, thanks to whom the term “Siamese twins” itself appeared. Bunkers have lived their whole lives connected by their chests, not knowing that one day medicine will learn how to separate people like them.

For a long time, Chang and Eng toured all over the world, performing in the circus show of the British Robert Hunter. Then they got the nickname Siamese twins, which, according to some sources, was invented by the astonished public. In 1839, the brothers managed to move to the United States. There, with the accumulated money, they bought a farm. In 1843, the Bunkers married the Aytes sisters, who bore them a total of 21 children over the years of their marriage. Chang and Eng died on the same day, having lived to the age of 62.

Daisy and Violetta Hilton

The story of the Siamese twins Hilton is still considered one of the most incredible and inspiring - based on the biography of American women, musicals and films were made more than once. Daisy and Violetta were born in England on February 5, 1908. Their mother, Kate Skinner, was an unmarried waitress who worked in a pub. The girls were born fused in the pelvis and had a common circulatory system. Skinner's employer, Mary Hilton, who was present at the birth, saw commercial gain in the newborns and bought them from her mother, giving her last name. The further life story of Hilton is similar to one of the seasons of American Horror Story. The girls' foster mother taught them music and dance and made them vaudeville stars.

Daisy and Violetta started performing at the age of three. At first, the sisters entertained visitors to British pubs, then toured Europe and Australia, and in 1916 they moved to the USA. It is known that the foster family brought up girls in severity, often treated them cruelly and took away all the money they earned. Their life did not get better even after the death of Mary Hilton - her daughter, who was no less sharp-tempered, began to be responsible for management. In 1931, Daisy and Violetta went to court and were finally able to break out of slavery and receive monetary compensation. Having gained freedom, they continued to perform, but time worked against them. The public gradually lost interest in aging artists, and few people were impressed by their genetic feature. In 1969, Daisy and Violetta Hilton were found dead in their own home. It is known that Daisy was the first to die from the Hong Kong flu. Violetta, chained to her sister's body, died a few days later.

Lucio and Simplicio

Godina Siamese twins Godina, fused back, were born in 1908 on one of the islands of the Philippine archipelago. The brothers had only cartilage and skin in the pelvic area “common”, but the doctors did not dare to separate them at birth, believing in sad statistics: in those years, Siamese twin boys, as a rule, were born unviable and died in the first days of life. Godina was able to deceive cruel numbers.

Until the age of 11, Lucio and Simplicio performed in circuses in the United States. Theodore Yangeo, a wealthy Filipino, then became their guardian and took them to Manila and ensured that the boys received a better education. In 1928, the Godina brothers fell in love and married twin sisters Natividad and Victorina Matos. The court did not want to register these relations - Lucio and Simplicio had to first prove that legally they are two different people. The couple left for the United States and were already four of them. In 1936, at the age of 28, Lucio died unexpectedly of pneumonia. Doctors tried to share Simplicio with his dead brother, but the young man lived only 12 days after the operation.

Margaret and Mary Gibb

The parents of Margaret and Mary Gibb, who were born in the United States in 1922, did not abandon special girls and did not try to cash in on them. Until the age of 14, the Gibb sisters were educated at home. Doctors repeatedly turned to the family, offering to separate the sisters (at that time, medicine already knew examples of successful operations), but they were refused. Growing up, Gibb traveled to New York to perform as vaudeville performers, where they gained notoriety.

Margaret and Mary never married, but a number of sources claim that one of the sisters was engaged twice and even wanted to separate from the twin, but there is no official confirmation of this. In 1942, the girls returned to their hometown and opened their own shop. Gibb remained inseparable until his death: in 1966, Margaret was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Even under the weight of the terrible news, Mary did not want to leave her sister. Gibb died in 1967 within minutes of each other.

Giacomo and Giovanni Tocci

It is not known exactly when the Tocci brothers were born, but the sources most often indicate the period from 1875 to 1877. Their father was so shocked to learn about the physical features of his sons that he was sent to a psychiatric hospital for a month. After returning from the clinic, the man made the children part of the freak show, showing them around the world. Because of this, the Tocci never learned to walk - forced to sit most of the time, they did not develop the necessary muscles. But the Italians spoke two foreign languages. According to some unverified reports, Tocci had children. It is not even possible to name the exact date of death of the brothers.

Millie and Christine McCoy

The McCoy sisters are the most famous Siamese twins of the late 19th and early 20th century. They were born in the United States in a family of disenfranchised slaves, and for some time the parents hid their daughters from the owner, fused sideways, fearing a reaction. Having learned about the children, the slave owner sold them to a circus show, agreeing to receive a percentage of the income from their performance.

Subsequently, Millie and Christine changed hands more than once. The last of them, Joseph Smith, treated the sisters with care - he reunited them with his mother, buying her from the slave owner, and moved them all to England. Smith gave the girls an education, taught foreign languages, music and singing. They began to perform and very quickly captivated the audience, earning the nickname "Two-Headed Nightingale". Among the fans of talented singers was Queen Victoria. At the age of 61, Millie contracted tuberculosis and died quickly. Her sister Christine died after her 12 hours later.

Chang and Eng were born on May 11, 1811 in Siam, in what is now Thailand. It was after the Bunker brothers became known to the world that the fused twins began to be called Siamese. It should be noted that the king of Siam was so struck by the birth of Chang and Eng that he ordered the twins to be killed immediately so as not to bring trouble to the state. But the mother refused to give up her boys, and the king's order was never carried out.

At the same time, the medical technologies of the 19th century did not leave Chang and Eng any chance of separation: the brothers were thoracopagi (twins fused in the chest area), and in this case the heart is always affected. Even with the current level of medicine, the chances of surviving a separation are very small, and then it meant certain death. Therefore, Chang and Eng grew up like ordinary children - in fact, they had no choice.

When the brothers were teenagers, they were noticed by British businessman Robert Hunter and invited Chang and Eng to perform in his circus, demonstrating their body and its abilities. It was a big risk, but Hunter turned out to be an honest man. The brothers toured the UK and the US until they were 21 and became wealthy after the end of their contract with Hunter.

Chang and Eng moved to the US, took the surname Bunker, entered into a contract with the famous Phineas Barnum Circus and bought a farm. On April 13, 1843, a double wedding took place: Chang and Eng married two sisters, Adelaide and Sarah Ann Aytes. In these marriages, Chang had 10 children, and Eng had 11.

The brothers lived on their farm in the circle of a loving family until their death in 1874: Chang fell ill with pneumonia and died, and Eng died a few hours later. They were 63 years old.

Rose and Joseph Blazek

The sisters from Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) were born in 1878. It was not possible to separate the sisters, fused in the pelvic area. The parents of Rosa and Josepha were so frightened by this that at first they decided simply not to feed the sisters so that they would starve to death. It is not known for what reason they changed their minds, but Rosa and Josepha grew up. Since it was difficult for them to study with ordinary children, the parents preferred to teach the sisters music and, oddly enough, dancing. The sisters played the violin and harp and really knew how to dance, each with her own partner. They performed regularly and were generally successful. And then Rose fell in love.

Her chosen one was a German officer who almost quarreled with her sister Rosa. Rosa and Josepha had one external genitalia for two, so at first there was no question of any intimate relationship. However, later Josepha relented and allowed her sister to reunite with her lover. And something happened that no one expected: Rosa became pregnant. It was Rosa, because each of the sisters had her own uterus. The newborn was named Franz. It was an absolutely healthy baby, whom the sisters brought up together, since both of them had milk. At the same time, legally, they were also both considered the mothers of Franz. The baby's father, unfortunately, died in the war.

After Rosa and Josepha had novels, once the sisters even wanted to get married, but they were not allowed to: according to the law, such a marriage would be considered bigamy. But in any case, the sisters managed to know both the love and the happiness of motherhood.

Rose and Joseph died in 1922. Josepha fell ill with jaundice, and the doctors offered Rosa a separation in order to save at least her. Rose refused. “If Josepha dies, I want to die too,” she said.

Millie and Christina McCoy

Fate has prepared cruel trials for the black sisters Millie and Christina: twins fused back and pelvis were born into a family of slaves in northern California. When they were 8 months old, the owner sold them along with their mother, but the new owner preferred to immediately resell the twins to the circus of freaks. From where the girls were soon kidnapped. Only three years later they were discovered in England and returned to the United States.

Then their owner, apparently, decided that the fused twins themselves were not so interesting to the public, and began to teach the girls to sing. So Milli and Christina, who had no chance of separation or freedom, got a chance to realize their talents. The girls sang really well.

After the death of the owner of the slaves, his son Joseph inherited, who came up with a new legend for the sisters: Milli and Christina became Milli-Christina, one girl with two heads, four arms and four legs. This is exactly how he represented his wards. But it didn't matter anymore. Milli and Christina sang so beautifully that fans came to see not their physical features, but to enjoy the sisters' voices. The "two-headed nightingale", as Milli and Christina were called, became extraordinarily popular. Soon the girls began not only to sing, but also to play musical instruments and even dance.

And after the civil war and the abolition of slavery, Millie and Christina not only gained freedom, but became very rich and respected ladies. Musical talent allowed them to earn a comfortable life. At the age of 58, the sisters left the stage and became Millie and Christina again. They returned to North Carolina, bought a house in Columbus, and spent the rest of their days relaxing. They died at the age of 61.

Abigail and Brittany Hensel

Perhaps the most famous living Siamese twins are sisters Abigail and Brittany Hensel from the United States. This is the rarest case of surviving (and living a full life!) dicephalic twins: two sisters have two heads, one torso, two arms, two legs and three lungs. Each has its own heart and stomach, but the blood supply between them is common. The two spinal cords end in one pelvis, and they have all the organs below the waist in common. In fact, from the side, dicephali look like a person with two heads. And at the same time they manage to lead a full life.

Each of the sisters controls their half of the body, but Brittany and Abigail have learned to coordinate movements with such precision that they can run, swim, ride a bike and even drive a car (each has their own driver's license). The girls studied at a regular school and in childhood both dreamed of becoming doctors. Parents strongly supported any hobbies of the sisters, and therefore Brittany and Abigail managed not to feel like outcasts: they never hid at home and tried not to react to the increased attention of strangers. As a result, the girls live a full life: they have many friends and hobbies.

Moreover, the girls graduated from the university with a degree in Mathematics Teacher, and each received a license. They got a job, but they get the same salary for two. “Of course, we immediately realized that we would have one salary, because we do the work of one person,” says Abby.

By the way, Abigail and Brittany have their own Facebook page.

Since the 10th century, about 200 operations have been carried out to separate conjoined twins. The first successful attempt was made in 1689 by the German surgeon Koenig - he separated the twins, fused at the waist. Despite centuries of experience in conducting such operations, each of them remains unique and involves significant risk.

But the goal was reached

Two hands, two heads, two hearts... Isn't it possible to separate them today, if a successful operation was performed at the end of the 17th century? However, medical historians believe that the German surgeon Koenig was successful only because the twins grew together only in the skin, as well as in the subcutaneous connective tissue and fatty tissue in the waist area. Now the separation of twins is possible in many, but by no means in all cases, and if the twins have common vital organs, such as the liver, surgical intervention is impossible.

The most famous of these operations was carried out on Raditza and Doditsa, Siamese sisters born in 1888 in the Indian state of Orissa. They were connected by chests and stomachs. In 1893, the London impresario began to show girls in the circus. Then, in 1902, they became the main attraction of the exhibition organized by the French Medical Academy. It was there that the doctors discovered that Doditsa had tuberculosis. To save the sister's life, they decided to separate them. An exceptionally difficult operation was performed by Dr. Dowen. But it soon became clear that the operation was unsuccessful. However, her main goal - the extension of the life of Raditsa - was achieved, since she outlived her sister by two whole years.

Now operations pass in most cases quite successfully. Only craniopagi (merged heads) are not always allowed to be separated by the possibilities of modern medicine.

The first successful operation to separate Siamese twins fused with their heads, but each with their own brain, was performed on December 14, 1952 at Mount Sinai Hospital, Cleveland, pc. Ohio, USA, Dr. Jacques S. Geller.

Only one in four survive

In Lithuania, in the city of Alytus, there live twelve-year-old girls, Viliya and Vitalia Tamulyavichus, who from birth were doomed, if not to death, then to a terrible life ... If not for the director of the Moscow Institute of Neurosurgery. Burdenko Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Alexander Konovalov. Ten years ago, he performed the first operation to separate twins, fused not only with their foreheads and crowns, but also with their brains! The girls' faces were in different planes, one turned from the other at an angle of about 90 degrees. In general, the twins survived more than 20 complex surgeries. Girls grow up cheerful, talkative, study successfully and love to read. And most importantly, like all twins, they cannot live even an hour without each other.

On average, after operations to separate Siamese twins, only one in four survives. Moreover, surgical intervention is considered successful even if one of the patients dies.

When conjoined twins are born sick, doctors and relatives face a difficult ethical problem. Sometimes only one twin has a chance to survive, and for this you need to sacrifice the life of the second twin. Parents may choose to surgically separate twins and save the life of the strongest twin. A similar incident occurred in 1993 with Emmy and Angela Lakeberg.

Less than 1% chance

The sisters were born fused from chest to belly; they shared a liver and a deformed heart. Their mother, Rita Lakeberg, knew she was carrying conjoined twins who had little chance of surviving and considered having an abortion, but in the end said, "I can't get rid of my babies." The twins were born so weak that doctors wanted to immediately turn off the air supply that kept them alive.

But the Lakebergs found a clinic in Philadelphia where surgeons undertook to separate the sisters in the hope that they could operate on the deformed heart to save the life of one of them. Angela had a better chance, but still, she had less than a 1% chance of surviving.

The operation lasted five and a half hours, Emmy did not live two hours before its completion. Angela's condition after the operation was stable, but 10 months later, right before her first birthday, she also died.

Rita Lakeberg turned a blind eye to the financial side of the problem and explained: "I could not live on, torturing myself with the question of whether it was possible to save the life of one of the twins." But the public questioned whether such costly surgeries should be carried out when the chances of success are so low, and many people cannot get basic medical care due to a lack of funds.

In addition, operations of this kind are contrary to the main provision of the Hippocratic oath, namely "do no harm." The experts pointed to the fact that if the twins were not fused, in the event of illness of both, no one would offer to sacrifice one of the sisters and transplant her internal organs to the second. It has been suggested that the public does not mind drastic measures being taken on conjoined twins simply because many perceive them to be monsters.

But there is another point of view on the operation to separate Siamese twins - they are seen as the last opportunity to save a person's life. When fused twins Christina and Betsy Woden were born in 1973, doctors separated them, and Betsy died of a heart defect. Christina is still alive and well. Their mother, Zhanna Wolzek, said: “They had to be separated, so what happened was what had to happen. The strongest survive, the weak may not, but it just so happened: sometimes you have to sacrifice something to save someone life".

Operate or not?

In 1990, Lev Borisovich Novokreshchenov, head of the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Orthopedics and Traumatology at the Chelyabinsk Medical Institute, did not have a dilemma at all - to perform or not to perform an operation. After, according to the ultrasound examination, it became known in the city ahead of time that Siamese twins were to be born to a young woman, a worker of one of the Chelyabinsk factories, Novokreshchenov knew for himself: of course, he would try to separate the children. Yes, and how else? This will have to be done as soon as possible, as soon as circumstances allow: every extra hour of the tragic mistake of nature will bring unnecessary torment to both the mother of the twins and the babies themselves.

They may ask why they dragged on for 36 days without having this operation done earlier, if they were preparing for it and decided on it a long time ago? An unhealed wound in the navel area interfered. Instinctively, the poor children kept pushing away from each other, and the wound got worse. When surgeons visiting children realized the futility of conservative efforts, they took infants to surgery with this powerful risk factor.

The operation lasted one hour and forty-five minutes and went remarkably smoothly. Well, what about emotions? There was composure, a desire for success, a great pity for the children. And, of course, scientific interest and scientific pride. Through careful preliminary studies, we have established that conjoined twins (or rather, I would call them undivided) share a liver with two independent bile collectors, independent gastrointestinal tracts, urinary systems and cardiopulmonary complexes. And now, under endotracheal anesthesia (halothane, nitrous oxide, calypsol, oxygen) with controlled breathing of both twins (muscle relaxation with dithylin), a skin incision was made along the midline of the connecting "bridge" and along its entire front surface with the intersection of the common xiphoid process.

Loops of intestines were found through a significantly stretched ribbon of white pine and the parietal peritoneum of the "bridge", a pleasant surprise was the discovery already during the operation of a kind of partition between the abdominal cavities of the twins from the liver to the navel. Nature, as it were, tried to at least partially correct its monstrous mistake by creating this partition in the form of two thin petals, which became a guiding line for surgeons.

Now the question was how exactly to divide the liver. The weight of the babies was at birth 4700, at the time of the operation - 5800 grams. It seemed rude and blasphemous to use the widely used Vietnamese method when dividing the liver, in which the surgeon actually tears the body of the liver with his fingers, exposing, like strings, vessels and bile ducts. Novokreshchenov used a thinner instrument - Billroth's curved hemostatic forceps. There were other successful tactics.

The surgeon believes that the team was lucky: there was no threat to the lives of the babies during the operation. Everything happened under close monitoring.

Who are craniopagi?

In 2001, British surgeons successfully separated Siamese twins who had fused at the base of the spine. According to the Birmingham doctors who performed the operation, it was only the third such operation in the world. Now the separated patients, who have already become teenagers, feel good.

Siamese twins Eman and Sanchia were born in Birmingham Children's Hospital. They were connected not only by a section of the spine, but also by a part of the intestine. However, during the 15-hour operation, the surgeons managed to separate the twins without visible complications.

The main part of the team of surgeons were local specialists, but they worked with the assistance of Lewis Spitz from the Children's Hospital on Great Ormond Street in London, who is the world's largest specialist in Siamese twins. The surgeons had to separate the spinal cord. In addition, doctors were faced with the need to separate the intestine. They also had to solve the problem of the lack of skin to close the defect formed after separation. To do this, a few weeks before the operation, skin-stretching balloons were placed under the skin of the twins and inflated.

In 2002, an operation to separate the fused skulls of the sisters Maria Teresa and Maria de Jesus Quih-Alvarez was performed at the UCLA clinic and lasted more than 20 hours. They say their theoretical chance of survival was one in a million. However, everything went well. Perhaps the most severe manifestation of craniopagia is the situation when two separate brains of twins have common blood vessels. When surgeons separate the vessels of the skull, serious circulatory disorders can occur in the brain, most dangerous for adult patients. In children, the brain is much easier to tolerate such complications.

The complex operation to separate Siamese twins fused in the head area requires lengthy preparation and many diagnostic procedures. First of all, doctors are convinced that the brains of two twins are not connected, and they are functionally independent: they breathe, sleep and move out of sync.

It is also important for doctors to determine how connected the circulatory systems of the twins are. To do this, one of them is injected into a vein with a special substance, the path of which through the vessels can be traced using an X-ray machine. The screen shows how fast the substance gets from one twin to another, and which vessels are involved in this process.

By determining the speed of movement of the same substance through the vessels of each of the twins, it is possible to assess how efficiently their hearts work, and whether they are able to provide an autonomous blood supply to their organisms after separation. The speed and efficiency of the removal of the radiopaque substance from the body allows us to judge the work of the kidneys.

The proportion of craniopagus among all Siamese twins is no more than 6%. Such a pathology occurs when the embryo, giving rise to two identical embryos, does not completely separate. This process occurs in the second week of pregnancy. The skulls of twins are most often connected in the parietal region; occipital and frontal fusions also occur.

The most successful operations are the separation of twins, which have a small number of common vessels and no defects in the meninges. Fusion of two different cranial boxes in this case occurs only in a small area.

Most often, complications are characteristic in the case of the so-called complete craniopagus. On a tomogram of the skull of such twins, a single cranium is visible, in which two brains are located. However, even with a large area of union, a positive outcome of the operation is possible, provided that the twins have few common vessels.

The technique of surgery for division and replacement of the skull defect is selected individually in each case of craniopagia. Sometimes doctors even resort to complete cardiac arrest, artificial circulation and lowering the body.