The Most Famous Conjoined Twins In The World, Abby and Brittany Hensel On Learning To Drive And Playing Sports

Abby and Brittany Hensel, 29, are one of only 12 sets of conjoined twins in the world and are fused together at the torso, with each controlling one side of their body.





Each twin controls one arm and one leg. As infants, learning to crawl, walk, and clap required cooperation. They can eat and write separately and simultaneously. Activities such as running, swimming, hair brushing and driving a car require coordinated action.



The twins' progress has been covered in the popular media, including Life magazine and The Oprah Winfrey Show. They were interviewed on The Learning Channel in December 2006, discussing their daily lives and future plans. They starred in their own reality series, Abby & Brittany, on TLC in 2012.

But the pair have appeared in their own reality show and flourished into aspiring adults, claiming that although they have one body, they have two souls.

Born on March 7, 1990, in Minnesota, USA, their parents Patty and Mike had no idea they were even expecting twins.

Doctors later realized that the twins' heads must have been perfectly aligned during the ultrasounds during Parry's pregnancy to give the appearance of a "normal" fetus developing.





With poor prognosis at the time for conjoined twins, the girls were not expected to survive even the first night.

But they have flourished, even going on to university where they achieved separate degrees.

According to Time magazine the girls were born with five limbs - an extra arm growing between their heads - but this was removed during infancy.

Although they discussed their options parents Patty and Mike never considered separating the girls, fearing that they would die or be left with severe disabilities if it was attempted.

Instead they encouraged the girls to develop their own minds.





Speaking when they were older, Abby said: "We never wish we were separated because we would never be able to do all the things that we do now, like play softball, run and do sports."

On their 16th birthday they passed their driving test - with both of them behind the wheel.

Brittany told the Daily Mail at the time: "Abby does the pedals and the gear shifter.

"I take over the blinkers and the lights. But she likes driving faster than me."

Speaking to the Daily Mirror back in 2012 as their reality show began, the pair hoped it would prove to the world that they are totally different people with unique personalities, who share dreams of marriage and having children of their own.

But they weren't prepared to talk about their love life back then.





Brittany, the joker of the two, said: “The whole world doesn’t need to know who we are seeing, what we are doing and when we are going to do it.

"But believe me, we are totally different people.”

Abby, the feisty stubborn one, added: “Yeah, we are going to be mums one day, but we don’t want to talk about how it’s going to work yet.”



But even if marriage isn’t in the cards in the near future, the one thing Abby and Brittany Hensel never lack is companionship. And both seem to be happy living their lives together the way they always have.

The pair graduated from Bethel University, each with their own degree, as they headed off for a career in teaching.

They are now fifth-grade teachers in the US, but they reportedly only get one salary.

Speaking to the BBC, Abby said: "Obviously right away we understand that we are going to get one salary because we're doing the job of one person.



While Abby is seen as the "outspoken" sister and will always win the argument about what they are going to wear, Brittany says her twin is also much more of a "homebody," whereas she prefers going out.



There are other differences too. Brittany is scared of heights, whereas Abby is not. Abby is interested in maths and science, while Brittany prefers the arts.



They also respond differently to coffee. After a few cups Brittany's heart rate increases, but Abby is not affected.



Abigail and Brittany Hensel's parents Patty and Mike While Abby is seen as the "outspoken" sister and will always win the argument about what they are going to wear, Brittany says her twin is also much more of a "homebody," whereas she prefers going out.There are other differences too. Brittany is scared of heights, whereas Abby is not. Abby is interested in maths and science, while Brittany prefers the arts.They also respond differently to coffee. After a few cups Brittany's heart rate increases, but Abby is not affected.

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