Freak people. Sisters Hensel: “Don't call us a girl with two heads. We are two different people with the same body

10.10.2019

Siamese twins Abigail and Brittany from the USA graduated from university and began teaching at school

Sisters Abigail and Brittany Hensel are Siamese twins. On March 7, they turned 23 years old. Abby and Brit, as their parents and friends call them, have one body for two, two arms, two legs. With internal organs, too, not everything is simple: two hearts, but a common circulatory system, two stomachs, two gallbladders, three kidneys, but one liver and one large intestine, three lungs, but common genitals. The sisters have two spines that converge into one pelvis.

Doctors call such twins dicephalic. Such cases are extremely rare. Only four pairs of surviving dicephalic twins are known to history, and one of them is the Hensel sisters. Now they are the only living dicephalic twins in the world.

Abby can drink liters of coffee, while Brit has a quicker heartbeat after a few cups.

When Abby and Brit are called a girl with two heads, they immediately correct: "We are two different people with the same body!" And indeed it is. Each of the sisters has their own character, their own tastes and preferences in food, clothing, entertainment, but they have learned to give in to each other.

* Brittany prefers neutral tones, but Abigail, who loves bright clothes, often wins over what to buy or wear

Abigail and Brittany were born in the town of New Germany (US state of Minnesota). Their mother is a nurse and their father is a carpenter. There are other children in the family - the youngest son and daughter. Hensels are very friendly and stand each other like a mountain. They have a large farm, a lot of livestock and other animals.

Doctors persuaded the Hensel spouses to undergo an operation to separate the Siamese twins. The parents had already agreed, but, having learned that one of the girls would definitely not survive, they resolutely rejected the proposal. Patty Hensel, Abby and Brit's mother, said she would never commit murder. And she challenged fate, for which her daughters are now immensely grateful to her.

In childhood, they, like most ordinary sisters and brothers, often argued with each other. There used to be fights! Once, when they were very young, Brit hit Abby on the head with a rock. Then both cried and asked each other for forgiveness. Now disagreements also arise, but the girls solve them in peace. If they can't find a compromise right away, they just toss a coin.

What are they arguing about? Yes about everything! “We have a different style,” says Abby. - Brittany is more into neutrals, pearls and all that. And I would love to wear bright, fun colors.” They, of course, buy clothes together. They go to a regular store, choose models, and then alter them at home - in blouses, dresses, sweaters, they have to make a second neckline. They try to buy clothes without buttons and zippers.

Abby, who doesn't mince words, is more likely to win arguments about what to buy or wear. Brit gets revenge when the sisters plan a vacation. Abby is a homebody, and Brit loves all sorts of parties, dancing, movies.

The New Germans know the sisters well and treat them well. And the rudeness or unpleasant jokes of strangers Abby and Brit are simply ignored. And yet everything happens. Erin Junkans, a close friend of the Hensel sisters, says they have to be very careful when they find themselves in a new place. It is impossible to predict in advance the reaction of people, especially in any club. Someone wants to touch the twins, someone starts taking pictures of them. “Abby and Brit don't like it,” says Erin. - My girlfriends and I try to block them from the lenses or cameras of smartphones. I watch how the girls react to the crowd. When they begin to worry a lot, it is better to leave, change the situation. But I'm always surprised by their ability to immediately shake off everything and continue to have fun.

The sisters react differently to coffee. Brit's heart beats faster after a few cups, and Abby can drink coffee by the liter. Brit loves milk, but Abby hates it. As they eat soup, Brittany won't let her sister sprinkle crackers on half of her. Abby is more aggressive, Brit is more artistic. Abby was better at math at school, Brit was better at literature.

Even in childhood, the sisters learned to act in concert. Each controls the arm and leg on their side, and each feels touched only on their side of the body. Yes, and the temperature of the sisters is always different. Abby quickly gets hot, while Brit can freeze at this time.

*Brit controls the right side of the body, Abby - the left, while the twins coordinate their movements well

Twins of different heights. Abby, whose height is 1 meter 57 centimeters, is 10 centimeters taller than her sister. And their legs are different lengths, so Brit has to stand on tiptoe all the time to keep her body balanced. But they coordinate their movements so well that they can quickly walk, run, swim, ride a bike, play volleyball and even participate in local team competitions. The sisters sing well and accompany themselves on the piano, with Abby playing the parts for the right hand, and Brit for the left.

And they are also able to read each other's thoughts, which they have already seen more than once. When Brit wants to sneeze or cough, Abby automatically covers her sister's mouth with her hand. One day they were watching TV, and suddenly Abby asked: “Are you thinking the same thing as me?” Brit replied, "Yes." And they went to read the same book.

“Each of us has a diploma, but they pay us one salary for two”

The Hensel sisters drive a car. They had to pass on the rights twice - each for himself. But that was about theory. The driving practice was passed once, and the instructor was close to losing consciousness. No, his students did a great job, only he hadn’t done this before. I saw: the steering wheel seemed to be turned by one person, and the pedals, levers and buttons were controlled as if by two different drivers. As a result, two driver's licenses were issued.

“The police rarely stop us, we are disciplined, we don’t break the rules, but anything can happen,” Brittany laughs. - The main fun begins when the patrolman asks for a license. Whose is it for you, we ask, and we begin to argue which of us just drove a car.

The girls have two passports. The sisters love to travel by plane, and every time they have a dispute with the representatives of the airlines. “We are being asked for two tickets because there are two Hensel sisters on the passenger list,” says Abby. - And we answer that we occupy one place in the cabin. So why do we need two tickets?”

The sisters recently graduated from university. They each received a diploma and teach mathematics in elementary school.

“We were hired with no problems,” says Brittany. - But we immediately realized that we would be paid one salary, because we perform the duties of one person. We do not agree with this. One can tell a lesson or listen to students' answers, while the other monitors discipline or checks notebooks at this time. So we do more work than other teachers. Maybe over time, when we gain experience, we will be able to achieve a salary increase. We still have two diplomas.”

Principal Paul Goode is pleased with the new teachers. “Abby and Brit have already become role models for their students,” he said. - And I'm not just talking about the knowledge that they pass on to children. Their attitude to life, the ability to overcome any difficulties is a special gift. Children feel it right away. Sometimes it seems to me that these girls can do everything. They will get whatever they want."

The Hensel sisters are very sociable and easy to get in touch with. But there is one topic that they do not like to discuss. This is their personal life. A couple of years ago, one of the American newspapers reported that Brittany was engaged. The sisters called it "a stupid joke."

Patty Hensel also tries to avoid this topic. In April, when her daughters were filmed by a BBC group, she told reporters: “Any mother wants her children to be happy, healthy and successful. I can say for sure that Abby and Brit are happy and successful. And that's all I want!"

Abby can drink liters of coffee, while Brit has a quicker heartbeat after a few cups.

When Abby and Brit are called a girl with two heads, they immediately correct: “We are two different people with the same body!” And indeed it is. Each of the sisters has their own character, their own tastes and preferences in food, clothing, entertainment, but they have learned to give in to each other.

* Brittany prefers neutral tones, but Abigail, who loves bright clothes, often wins over what to buy or wear

What are they arguing about? Yes about everything! “We have a different style,” says Abby. Brittany is more into neutral tones, pearls and all that. And I would love to wear bright, fun colors.” They, of course, buy clothes together. They go to a regular store, choose models, and then alter them at home - in blouses, dresses, sweaters, they have to make a second neckline. They try to buy clothes without buttons and zippers.

The New Germans know the sisters well and treat them well. And the rudeness or unpleasant jokes of strangers Abby and Brit are simply ignored. And yet everything happens. Erin Junkans, a close friend of the Hensel sisters, says they have to be very careful when they find themselves in a new place. It is impossible to predict in advance the reaction of people, especially in any club. Someone wants to touch the twins, someone starts taking pictures of them. “And Abby and Brit don’t like it,” says Erin. - My girlfriends and I try to block them from the lenses or cameras of smartphones. I watch how the girls react to the crowd. When they begin to worry a lot, it is better to leave, change the situation. But I'm always surprised by their ability to immediately shake off everything and continue to have fun.

*Brit controls the right side of the body, Abby controls the left, while the twins coordinate their movements well

“Each of us has a diploma, but they pay us one salary for two”

The sisters recently graduated from university. They each received a diploma and teach mathematics in elementary school.

“We were hired with no problems,” says Brittany. “But we immediately realized that we would be paid one salary, because we perform the duties of one person. We do not agree with this. One can tell a lesson or listen to students' answers, while the other monitors discipline or checks notebooks at this time. So we do more work than other teachers. Maybe over time, when we gain experience, we will be able to achieve a salary increase. We still have two diplomas.”

Principal Paul Goode is pleased with the new teachers. “Abby and Brit have already become role models for their students,” he said. — And I'm not just talking about the knowledge that they pass on to children. Their attitude to life, the ability to overcome any difficulties is a special gift. Children feel it right away. Sometimes it seems to me that these girls can do everything. They will get whatever they want."

Abby and Brittany Hensel are one of the most famous Siamese twins, especially in the US, where they even filmed a reality show with them. The 26-year-old sisters conquered the Americans by becoming the embodiment of the real confrontation between two different personalities, by the will of fate chained into one body. Yes, Hensel has one body and two heads, which is why they are called "the girl with two heads." But they have a few more features:

1. They have one body, but different vital organs. Each of the sisters has its own heart, stomach, lungs, and even spine and spinal cord.

2. Each of them controls their half of the body and one arm and one leg.

3. Because of this, it was difficult for them to learn to crawl, walk, do something with their hands, because it had to be done in a coordinated and synchronous manner.

4. They have different walks. Brittany often walks on tiptoes.

5. The sisters' parents immediately refused to separate them, because the doctors did not promise a successful outcome.

6. When they turned 16, they allowed TV people to make the first documentary about them, and then a reality show.

7. Together they can walk, run, swim, drive a car and even ride a bike! They type on a computer. They just learned to cooperate and coordinate their actions. And where to go!

8. To drive a car, each of the twins had to pass on the rights.

9. Abby and Brittany have completely different personalities. They even sew special clothes to emphasize the tastes of each.

10. Abby loves math and Brittany loves literature.

11. In 2012 they graduated from the university.

12. Sisters hope they can find love and have children.

13. The twins say they don't mind being together, but they get very annoyed when they are photographed on the street without permission.

14. At 6 years old, they appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show.

15. Hensel love to play musical instruments, bowling and volleyball.

16. When they go to the theater, they buy two tickets.

17. Since these are two different people, it happens that one is sick and the other is healthy. Brittany has had pneumonia twice already, but Abby has never.

18. They prepare different birthday cakes for them.

19. Sometimes it's hard to coordinate everything. One may want to eat or sleep, while the other does not.

20. Brittany and Abby are primary school teachers with a mathematical bias.

Once upon a time, the fate of all Siamese twins was one - to serve as amusement to the public. Today's world is not so cruel, but not many such twins become happy. We want to tell you about the difficult and often tragic fate of these people.

Siamese twins are identical twins that have not completely separated during the embryonic period of development and share body parts and / or internal organs. The chance of such people being born is approximately one in 200,000 births. More often, Siamese twins are born girls, although the first two pairs of the most famous Siamese twins were born boys. But if we discard science and “turn on” feelings, then you will not envy the fate of these people.

1. Unnamed Siamese twins

The earliest case of the birth of Siamese twins was scientifically recorded and dated to the year 945. This year, two fused boys from Armenia were brought to Constantinople for medical examination. A pair of unnamed Siamese twins managed to survive and even grow up. They were well known at the court of Emperor Constantine VII. After the death of one of the brothers, doctors made the first ever attempt to separate Siamese twins. Unfortunately, the second brother did not survive either.

2. Chang and Eng Bunker

The most famous pair of Siamese twins were the Chinese Chang and Eng Bunker. They were born in 1811 in Siam (modern Thailand). Later, all twins born with such a physical anomaly began to be called "Siamese". Chang and Eng were born with fused chest cartilage. In modern science, this type is called "xifopagi twins", and such twins can be divided. But in those days, the boys had to perform in the circus for the entertainment of the public in order to survive. For many years they toured with the circus under the nickname "Siamese twins" and became famous all over the world.

In 1839, the brothers stopped performing, bought a farm and even married two sisters. They gave birth to perfectly healthy children. These famous brothers died in 1874. When Chang died of pneumonia, Eng was sleeping at the time. Waking up and finding his brother dead, he also died, although before that he was healthy.

3. Millie and Christina McCoy

Another famous case of the birth of Siamese twins occurred in 1851. In North Carolina, a pair of Siamese twins, Millie and Christina McCoy, were born into a family of slaves. When the babies were eight months old, they were sold to D. P. Smith, a famous showman. It was assumed that when the girls grew up, they would be used to perform in the circus. They started performing at age three and were known as the "Two-Headed Nightingale". The girls had a musical education, sang well and played musical instruments. The sisters toured until the age of 58, and died in 1912 from tuberculosis.

4. Giovanni and Giacomo Tocci

Siamese twins Giovanni and Giacomo Tocci were born in 1877 in Italy as dicephalic twins. They had two heads, two legs, one body and four arms. It was said that when they saw the kids, their father, not having survived the shock, landed in a psychiatric clinic. But resourceful relatives decided to take advantage of the misfortune and forced the boys to perform in public. But Giovanni and Giacomo disliked this and did not respond well to “training”. They never learned to walk as each head only had control over one of the legs. According to some sources, the Tocci brothers died at an early age. Their difficult life was described in one of his stories by the famous writer Mark Twain.

5. Daisy and Violetta Hilton

These girls were born in 1908 in Brighton, England. They fused in the pelvis, but they did not have any vital common organs. At first, their fate was extremely sad. From birth, they were doomed to perform in various show programs. The twins were bought by Mary Hilton from their barmaid mom, and they started their first show while still very young. The girls sang and played musical instruments, touring throughout Europe and America. After the death of Mary Hilton, her relatives began to “patronize” the girls. And only in 1931, Daisy and Violetta were able to obtain the long-awaited freedom and 100 thousand dollars in compensation through the court.

The twins continued to perform and even came up with their own program. They toured in their senior years and even starred in two films, one of which was a biopic called Bound for Life.

Daisy and Violetta Hilton died in 1969 from the flu. Daisy died first, and Violetta remained alive for some time, but she did not have the opportunity to call anyone for help.

6. Simplicio and Lucio Godina

These two boys were born in 1908 in the city of Samar in the Philippines. The case is unique in that they were cartilaginously fused in the pelvis back to back, yet they were so flexible that they could turn to face each other. When the twins were 11 years old, they were taken to their upbringing by a wealthy Filipino, Theodore Yangeo. He raised the boys in luxury and took care of their good education. In 1928, Simplicio and Lucio married twin sisters (not Siamese) and lived a happy life until 1936, when Lucio fell ill with pneumonia and died. The decision was made to perform an emergency operation to separate the twins, but Simplicio fell ill with spinal meningitis and died 12 days after his brother's death.

7. Masha and Dasha Krivoshlyapov

The most famous Siamese twins of the USSR Masha and Dasha Krivoshlyapov were born on January 4, 1950. Their tragic fate is known to every Soviet person. The sisters were born with two heads, four arms, three legs and one common body. When one compassionate nurse showed the girls to their mother, the poor woman lost her mind and ended up in a psychiatric clinic. The sisters met their mother only when they were 35 years old.

For the first seven years, the girls were kept at the Institute of Pediatrics of the USSR Academy of Sciences, where they were used as "guinea pigs". From 1970 until her death in 2003, the Krivoshlyapov sisters lived in a boarding school for the elderly. In the last years of their lives, Masha and Dasha often drank.

8. Abigail and Brittany Hensel

Sisters Abigail and Brittany Hensel were born in the western United States, in New Germany. On March 7, 2016, they turned 26 years old. Their life is a vivid example of the fact that, remaining a single whole, you can live a completely normal, full life. The Hensel sisters are dicephalic twins. They have one body, two arms, two legs, three lungs. Each has its own heart and stomach, but the blood supply between them is common.

Abigail and Brittany live with their parents, younger brother and sister. Each of them controls the arm and leg on their side, and each feels touched only on their side of the body. But they have learned to coordinate their movements very well, so much so that they can play the piano and drive a car. The inhabitants of their small town know the sisters well and treat them well. Abby and Brit have many friends, loving parents and quite a fulfilling life. Recently, the sisters graduated from the university, and each received a diploma. Now they teach mathematics in elementary school. Their attitude to life, the ability to overcome any difficulties is a special gift.

9. Krista and Tatiana Hogan

These wonderful babies were born in 2006 in Vancouver, Canada. At first, doctors gave a very small chance that the girls would survive. Even before they were born, they suggested that the mother have an abortion. But the young woman insisted on leaving the children, and never once regretted her decision. The girls were born healthy, and the only thing that distinguished them from ordinary children was that the sisters grew together with their heads. Twins grow and develop the way children their age should develop. They speak well and even know how to count. Their parents simply adore them and always say that they are healthy, beautiful and happy.

The Hensel sisters are Siamese twins, but despite this, their life is not much different from the lives of other people. Their names are Abigail and Brittany. These girls are cheerful, sociable, and they have their own dreams and goals. They, like other children, went to school, studied hard, graduated from university and got a job. But since each sister has her own character, it becomes curious how they get along in the same body.

dicephalic twins

The girls were born on March 7, 1990 in New Germany. They turned out to be conjoined dicephalic twins. It is very rare for two people to have the same torso with two legs and two arms. At the same time, the body has its own difficulties, so they have three lungs. Also, each girl has her own stomach and heart, which are connected by one blood circulation. In addition, they have three kidneys, two gallbladders, one large intestine and a liver. Two spines end in a common pelvis. All organs, starting from the waist, are one for two, including the genitals.

The Hensel sisters are a huge rarity; in history, only four pairs of dicephalic twins were recorded who were able to survive. But to date, these girls are the only survivors. In addition, they lead normal lives.

Anatomical differences

Although the sisters have the same circulatory system, their body temperature is different, and they feel it. Abigail often gets hot, but her sister is often cold at these moments. Twin girls have different heights. Abigail is 1 m 57 cm, but her sister is 10 cm lower. This is noticeable in the location of the head and along the length of the legs. To make the body look more harmonious and balanced, Brittany always stands on her toes.

Who is the master in the body?

Abigail and Brittany Hensel are fused twins, so each girl only controls the part of her body that is on her side. So, for example, Abigail cannot raise a hand that is on Brittany's side or does not feel pain or touch from her side. Despite this, the girls have learned to move smoothly, so much so that they manage to perform movements as if they were one person. Thanks to this, the sisters walk well, can run and ride a bicycle. The sisters also learned to swim and even drive a car. During their school years, such coherence helped them to take part in local competitions.

Different people

But the fact that sisters Abigail and Brittany Hensel are different people proves not only the structure of their bodies. Each girl may have her own reaction to a particular product. For example, unlike Abigail, Brittany's heart reacts to coffee and her heart rate increases. At the same time, Brit loves milk, but her sister does not. And if they eat soup, Abby only sprinkles crackers on her soul mate, because the second girl does not like such a mix.

But this is not the only difference between the sisters. These are really two different personalities, each has its own character, tastes, preferences and even dreams. Their views on clothing and choice of entertainment also do not coincide. But since they have to share one body, they have learned to compromise.

girls family

Twins Abigail and Brittany Hensel were born and continue to live in their family. Mom works as a nurse, and dad is a carpenter. Girls are not the only children. Parents decided on the birth of another daughter and son. Their family is very friendly, they, despite the difficulties, are support for each other. There is always a lot to do at home, since the parents own a farm with cows and other animals.

When the girls were still small, doctors strongly recommended that they perform an operation and separate the twins. But that meant that one of the daughters would die. Despite the complexity of the decision, the parents resolutely refused. Mother was not ready to sacrifice one of her beloved girls. Today, Abigail and Brittany are immensely grateful that mom decided to leave everything as it is. And indeed, because the daughters grew up cheerful, sociable and active. Their parents and friends call them Abby and Brit.

How was childhood

Despite the unusual appearance, the parents sent the girls to a normal school. Here the Hensel sisters learned not to respond to ridicule. Although it is worth noting that in the town where they live, they are treated friendly and completely normal.

But one of the main difficulties was for the sisters to learn to yield to each other. Before this happened, they constantly argued, there were quarrels and even fights, like all brothers and sisters. Once in deep childhood, when they disagreed again, Brittany grabbed a stone and hit her sister on the head. But this was a lesson for both, the girls were very frightened and with tears asked each other for forgiveness.

Gradually, Abby and Brit learned to peacefully resolve their disagreements. To do this, they can toss a coin or ask their parents for advice.

The girls did not want to be different from others, so they also pursued their own hobbies. So they learned not only to sing beautifully, but also to play the guitar and piano.

What are the twins arguing about?

It may seem to some, well, what can Siamese twins not share, because they should already learn to feel each other? But Abigail and Brittany Hensel are different people, each of them has their own opinion and it can be difficult to make concessions. For example, it can be difficult for girls to choose a vacation, because Abby likes to stay at home. But Brit cannot sit at home, because she likes dancing, funny companies, parties, or at least she just needs to go to the movies. In this case, the girl tries to defend her preferences to the last. But sometimes it is difficult for her, because her sister is one of those people who do not need to “reach into their pocket for a word”, she often becomes the winner in disputes.

How to choose clothes

It happens that the Hensel sisters do not agree on what to wear on their bodies, because Abby loves “cool” and bright outfits, she believes that jewelry should also be original, youthful. But Brit, on the contrary, prefers a restrained style in clothes, neutral shades, and from jewelry - something calm and sophisticated, such as pearls. To get a new thing, they have to negotiate.

The sisters go to ordinary stores in search of things. If they both like a T-shirt or jacket, they buy it and alter it a little at home. If it's a dress or blouse, they make a second neckline. And so the Hensel sisters try to ensure that there are no zippers and buttons on the clothes.

How do girls live in one body

The Hensel sisters (there is a photo on this page) are trying to lead a normal life. They have many girlfriends with whom they spend time. Since it is difficult to sit all your life in a small town, they go to other places. In a new environment, they are helped by friends who try to monitor the reaction of people. The difficulty is that people are unpredictable and often want to photograph the twins or just touch them. But such an attitude is unpleasant for girls, friends try to close them from the lens.

Girls like attention, but if it is within the bounds of decency. For example, if a person wants to take a picture, he just needs to come up to say hello and get to know each other a little. In this case, Brit and Abby will gladly smile at the camera.

But if this does not happen, and people brazenly photograph them as a "curiosity", the sisters begin to get nervous and worry. They have to go somewhere else. Despite such a reaction of people, after a change of scenery, the girls are not upset, but continue to have fun, as if nothing had happened. It is worth noting that Abby's character is a little quick-tempered and aggressive, while Brit is softer and more artistic.

Car driving

It seems surprising to many that sisters Abigail and Brittany Hensel, fused twins, can drive a car. Both girls have this skill. Each of them took a driving theory test, but they passed the practice together. Sitting in the driver's seat, both sisters perform their actions, which they agreed on in advance. For example, one presses the gas, the other must press the brake. The sisters have two driver's licenses, each with their own, as well as passports. When they are stopped at the post, the girls ask whose documents to present.

In addition to traveling by car, Abby and Brit fly by plane. But here they often have difficulties, because they are required to present two tickets, because there are two names on the passenger list. But the girls are in no hurry to pay because they only need one place.

Study and work

At the end of school, the girls had another difficulty. Brittany loved literature, while her sister was good at math. They needed to go to university, but in such a way that the interests of the twins were taken into account. As a result, the girls agreed that they want to be teachers of elementary grades. So each sister will be able to teach the subject that she likes.

After graduating from university, Brit and Abby took a job as teachers at the school, but they are paid the same salary, as if two people share the same rate. But the girls do not agree, because they have two diplomas. In addition, while one is conducting a lesson, the other can check notebooks from her classes.

Students enjoy being in the classes with the Hensel sisters. Children learn from them not to give up and have a positive outlook on life.

Sisters Hensel: personal life and dreams

Abby and Brit are sociable and love to talk, but always avoid the topic of personal life. But the fact is that girls and their mother dream of marriage. Once in a newspaper, a sensation was published that Brittany was already engaged, but the sisters said that this was a "cruel joke."

Today, girls have gained wide popularity because they are written about in newspapers, invited to TV shows, and even a series was filmed with their participation. They are happy, famous and successful people who may soon be lucky, and the sisters will be able to meet a loved one and even become mothers.