Like many, we can’t help but be fascinated by the life of conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel. People like them are rare, making up just 1% of all identical twin cases in the United States. But how have they lived such whole lives despite sharing the same body?
These girls are the world’s most well-known conjoined twins and achieved fame as co-leads of their popular TLC reality show “Abby and Brittany.” Now more than a decade later, they are capturing the world’s attention again as they’ve courageously broken even more barriers. And we bet you’re dying to know the details of their transition to adulthood…
Historically, only one case of siblings like the Hensel sisters who lived into adulthood, Giacomo and Giovanni Battista Tocci from Italy, are known. They had a similar condition, with one arm and one leg each, but unlike the girls, they could not walk and never learned to do so.
Living Without Limits
Although born with a medical condition that fused them for life, the Hensel sisters never let it limit them. Instead, they have always lived to the fullest, embracing every challenge that comes their way. Judging by the stunning photos that capture their life, it is clear that they have had a remarkable journey.
What makes them even more inspiring is that despite their unique situation, they lead an active lifestyle, demonstrating their exceptional coordination and ability to work together as a team. Still, there are some critical day-to-day challenges anyone in their shoes will face, so how have they managed so well for three decades?
Maintaining Their Individuality
Despite being physically connected at the hip and sharing a single body, Abby and Brittany remain two distinct individuals. While they have separate heads and internal organs, they share a pair of arms and legs. Their living condition raises many questions—some too weird to ask—like how they use the bathroom or date.
Still, this means they must work together and make many decisions jointly, including essential life choices, and we’d like to know how they do it. Thankfully, instead of allowing us to drown in a pool of our curiosity, the Hensel sisters have been forthcoming in answering many of these inquiries over the years.
Their Special Birth Circumstances
Of course, no one wants the twins to feel like there’s no privacy in their lives. But even they understand that the exceptional circumstances of their birth are not the simplest to wrap one’s head around. The occurrence of identical twins is already relatively uncommon, with less than a one percent chance. And siamese twins are even rarer.
Unfortunately, many conjoined twins do not survive. Those who do often face many health challenges during childhood, which can further reduce their chances of survival. This makes Abby and Brittany’s story all the more remarkable, as they have survived and thrived, growing into healthy adults.
How The Twins Handle Dressing
Among the questions on people’s minds regarding the Hensel girls are how they approach getting outfits that fit them well. Although they are often mistaken for a single person, they are two distinct individuals with their own unique traits. One difference is their height, with Abby being a bit taller.
That slight height difference can make it challenging for them to find clothing that fits appropriately. And in addition to their physical differences, they have different tastes and preferences regarding fashion. So to address the challenge, they found a talented seamstress who creates custom outfits for their physique while still allowing them to express their personal style.
They Control Different Halves of Their Body
It’s genuinely great that, fashion-wise, they still get to enjoy their individuality. Not every aspect of it is convenient. Due to their unique anatomy, they control different halves of their body, which presents challenges in their daily lives. This is most noticeable in the way they walk.
Abby walks with her feet flat on the heels, while Brittany walks on her toes. Their height difference plays a role in this. As young children, they had to learn how to crawl, stand, walk, and run together. They were even born with three arms, but their parents decided to remove the extra limb so they could move their shoulder blades comfortably.
Growth Differences
Something else that threatened the twins’ anatomical comfort was that Brittany stopped increasing in height at 12. On the other hand, Abby was still able to grow, which is why she’s taller. However, if her height had continued to increase with Brittany’s halted, it would have been an enormous problem.
As a result, their parents opted for spine surgery on Abby to halt her vertical growth, and the procedure fused her back bones together, preventing further elongation. Because of how they share their upper body, they also needed an anti-scoliosis operation. But those were just bumps on their road to adulthood.
They Don’t Fall Sick At The Same Time
Surprisingly, when one twin gets sick, the other remains healthy. This is because they have separate vital organs and immune systems, which means they are not always affected by the same illness. For example, Brittany has been known to get colds more frequently, while Abby has never developed pneumonia despite her sister getting it twice.
Additionally, Abby is an outgoing and adventurous person, while Brittany is more reserved and has a fear of heights. Not to mention that Brittany’s heart rate increases when she consumes too much coffee, but this does not affect Abby similarly. However, while these differences make each one unique, they also have similar interests.
They Have Some Similar Interests
Thankfully, Abby and Brittany’s bond extends beyond just sharing a body as they often find common ground in their interests and hobbies. They excel at sports, excelling in games like bowling and volleyball, further improving their coordination. And also, their musical talent is a source of joy for both of them, as they’re proficient in playing the
Abby takes the left side of the keyboard while Brittany takes the right, and together, they create beautiful melodies. They’re also talented guitarists, and their love for music keeps growing as they learn new instruments and expand their musical abilities. But music aside, who knew these two could also act?
Becoming Reality TV Stars
The Hensel siblings actually rose to prominence in 2012 when they starred in their own TLC reality show, “Brittany & Abby.” The program aimed to dispel misconceptions people had about conjoined twins in general by giving viewers a glimpse into their daily lives. Although fame was not their primary motivation, the sisters used their brief time in the spotlight to further their careers.
Through the show, people gained a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Hensel sisters’ condition, which is what the siblings hoped to achieve through their screen time. And they continue to inspire others even though their television time has passed.
Their Academic Capabilities Differ
While their one-year stint in reality TV added to the long list of things they enjoyed doing together, many other aspects of their lives still set them apart. For example, while Brittany excelled in writing and language arts, Abby shone in science and math. Their kindergarten teacher, Connie Stahlke, recognized their different skills and allowed them to work together or complete assignments separately.
But being privy to each other’s papers led to them being repeatedly asked if they cheated on their school tests. And they’ve explicitly stated they never did. They did, however, confess to occasionally peeking at each other’s answers.
At Least They Always Had a Study Partner
Considering their differing academic strengths, it wasn’t a shock that they wanted to pursue different career paths after high school. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible, so they had to find a compromise. And even if one struggled in a particular aspect, they had a permanent study partner to put them through.
Thankfully, one thing they do exceptionally well is finding a perfect balance in their lives, and they eventually chose a major that aligns with their shared interests. The Hensel sisters then enrolled in Bethel University, hoping to earn a degree in education. And their hard work paid off, as they both graduated in 2012.
An Athletic Duo
During their university days, the sisters took advantage of their freedom in a new environment to explore their interests and make new friends. They were not limited in any way among their peers and were even quite athletic, with interest in a wide range of sports.
Abby and Brittany developed the skills and coordination needed to excel in these sports, including swimming, bowling, volleyball, and rowing. It wasn’t easy, but now they do it as anyone can. They often engaged in these activities in their free time, enjoying sociability and competition with friends. That’s why these friends don’t see them as any different from others.
Becoming Independent
Having completed their studies, the Hensel sisters focused on gaining independence. Their first big step was to move out of their childhood home and into their own place. What a big move! Although it was a significant change, they felt it was necessary to take control of their lives and become more self-sufficient.
They also place great importance on financial independence, which allows them to live more fulfilling lives. You’d be surprised that despite having one body, they each pay for their own movie tickets at the cinema. Perhaps that’s just their choice, and we get it. But they only need one since they will occupy a single seat.
They Each Have a Driver’s License
If they were willing to pay for an extra movie ticket to establish their individuality further, then it goes without saying that the same would apply to driving. On their 16th birthday, they learned to drive together, with one sister controlling the wheel and the other manning the pedals.
The written test, however, was taken separately, and both of them passed, resulting in two individual licenses. The sisters also have separate passports identifying them individually but only purchase one ticket when traveling by plane. Fight prices can be high, so of course, they’d take advantage of being joined in this instance to save cost.
Traveling The World with Friends
Abby and Brittany lived life to the fullest as possible, even traveling to different countries with their friends. Their second TLC series documented the trip around the world with two of their college buddies. The journey was an incredible feat that required double the preparation of an ordinary trip due to their unique circumstances, but they pulled it off flawlessly.
The group’s expedition involved visits to England and Italy, where they saw iconic landmarks, tried new foods, and learned about different cultures. Although the twins had a perfect time with their friends, it wasn’t the first trip they had made to another country.
Celebrating Their Graduation
Before their trip around the world, the Hensel sisters had already traveled to England multiple times. As part of their college experience, they studied abroad in that European country and even completed a student teaching stint in London. But all those visits were for study, not exploration, so this time was different.
As a graduation trip, it was meant to be a last hurrah of sorts, a final adventure with their college friends before starting their professional lives. Traveling after school is believed to force one out of their comfort zone and possibly help people discover new passions. However, Abby and Brittany already found theirs as educators.
Having Fun Like Any Other Tourist
Despite their unique physical condition, the Hensel sisters are just like any other tourists, as demonstrated on their big trip. They were eager to capture every moment of their once-in-a-lifetime experience through photographs. However, taking pictures proved a unique challenge for the conjoined twins.
Due to the placement of their limbs, Abby had to always press the camera button to capture moments, even though Brittany could still take snaps with her own hand. To overcome this obstacle, the twins developed a creative solution. When Brittany takes a photo, Abby captures the moment by pressing the button precisely when her sister’s hand stops moving.
Entering The Workforce
After their fun vacation in Europe, it was time for the girls to start their lives as graduates and look for a job. Their program on TLC covered this part of their lives and showed their challenges with landing employment. But they finally secured a great workplace after months of conversations and job applications.
Their career ironically brought them back to their hometown in Minnesota after traveling the world. They are now fourth and fifth-grade math teachers at Sunnyside Elementary School, adored by students and teachers. But while this is great, the path to landing the position was challenging.
Landing a Job as Educators
The process of being hired as a teacher can be tedious and time-consuming. After submitting their resumes, Abby and Brittany were delighted to hear that Sunnyside Elementary was interested in their application. A meeting was soon arranged with the school’s principal and four of their future colleagues, which proved critical in their employment.
The meeting went exceptionally well, and even before the principal decided, the other teachers made it clear that they wanted the sisters on their team. Their passion and unique skills also made an excellent impression on the school faculty, and the Hensel twins were overjoyed to have landed the job.
Facing Some Challenges
Getting hired at a nearby elementary school in their area was a significant accomplishment for the twins. It allowed them to utilize their education degrees, work close to their hometown, and, most importantly, do so as a team. However, for the school, a lot had to go into preparing both the management and students for their new teachers.
That presented some fears and challenges for the twins. They initially worried that the children in their classroom might reject them because they don’t come across conjoined twins daily, but that was hardly the case. The school also took some steps to prevent that.
Positive Reception of The Twins As Teachers
When Sunnyside Elementary School hired Abby and Brittany, the administration recognized the need to prepare the public and students for their arrival. The school hired a public relations expert to create letters for families, which informed them about the twins joining the faculty. Despite some initial hesitations, the Hensel twins have been warmly welcomed by both parents and students alike.
The school organized an open house where the Hensel twins interacted with the attendees, which proved an excellent opportunity for people to get to know them better. As a result, even those who may have had reservations about their hiring were pleasantly surprised and impressed by them.
Meeting Their Students
The Hensels were already familiar with meeting new students when they began teaching at Sunnyside Elementary. As part of their college coursework, they were required to complete student teaching like any other aspiring teacher in the United States. However, the management’s primary concern was the students’ response to having conjoined twins as their teachers rather than their educator capabilities.
The school then arranged for Abby and Brittany to be introduced to the class. Subsequently, the students were given two opportunities to ask questions—one with the twins present and one without them. And their responses put everyone at ease, with students even looking forward to their lessons with them.
Their Unique Teaching Style
It turned out the students that everyone worried won’t accept the siblings perceived them as inspiring. They attest to the strict classroom management that goes on under the Hensels’ tutelage, with one student noting that misbehavior is never unnoticed by their teachers. With the extra pair of eyes, that’s not surprising.
Abby and Brittany’s unique setup offers an advantage in monitoring student behavior. While one sister teaches, the other is available to monitor the classroom and ensure that all students are listening and behaving. It also means that students can enjoy two unique teaching methods; unfortunately, their pay doesn’t reflect that.
Shouldn’t They Earn Separate Salaries?
While the school is thrilled to have them, the administration had to address specific practical matters, like their pay and benefits. As conjoined twins, the question arose whether they would each receive separate payments, so the matter was referred to the human resources department to determine the fair and legal way to compensate them.
Abby and Brittany are considered part-time employees teaching two grade levels in a small town because they don’t work a full school day. As a result, they receive a single salary, and it remains unclear if they receive double benefits and retirement. However, they plan to negotiate that in the future.
Exceptional Math Teachers
The Hensel twins have garnered excellent reviews from both their students and fellow educators. The unique dynamic of having two teachers in the classroom has been particularly beneficial to their pupils. One student particularly noted that when one sister is occupied, she loves that she can ask the other for assistance.
As math teachers for fourth and fifth graders, the twins teach a class transitioning to the more advanced mathematics concepts beyond basic arithmetic. They have worked diligently to perfect their teaching techniques and provide their students with a strong foundation that will serve them well throughout their academic careers.
You’d Think They Can Read Each Others Mind
The idea of a special connection between twins has always been mysterious. Their bond is undoubtedly exceptional, and many believe it has a supernatural quality, almost as if they possess a telepathic connection. But science debunks this idea as a myth, so how do we explain Abby and Brittany’s work email communication?
