Abby and Brittany Hensel family consists of their parents Mike, Patty and two younger siblings. Abby and Brittany are conjoined twins.
Abigal Loraine and Brittany Lee Hensel were born in Minnesota on March 7, 1990, attached to a single body. The twin sisters attracted the limelight after famously appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show in the mid-90s.
You can also find out about other famous twins on the site including Leslie Davis and Lyndsay Lamb, and the Clermont Twins.
The conjoined twins gained further recognition after appearing on their own show titled Abby & Brittany in 2012. The reality show was created and directed by Beth Glover. The show was broadcasted by the TLC network for eight episodes, and it presented how the girls cope with challenges after college.
The case of Abby and Brittany became a matter of media attention. They have appeared in many TV shows including Joined For Life by Discovery Channel in 2003, Joined for Life: Abby and Brittany Turn 16, by TLC, and Extraordinary People: The Twins Who Share a Body by Five in 2007.
The Hensel twins attended Mayer Lutheran High School. They joined Bethel University for higher studies in 2012. The sisters graduated from the Saint Paul-based University with a major in Teaching.
Abby And Brittany Family
Abby And Brittany family include their parents Patty, Mike and siblings Dakota and Morgan. The conjoined twins are the firstborn of their parents.
Mom Patty Hensel
Abby and Brittany Hensel mother Patricia Kay Hensel is a registered nurse. Patty practices her nursing profession in Minnesota.
Patty has spent most of her time in Minnesota and raised her four children in the state. The conjoined twins, Abby and Brittany, are the firstborn of the medical professional.
In an interview Patricia Kay stated that she feels very happy about her twin children and being able to see them succeed with their careers in life.
Dad Mike Hensel
Abby and Brittany Hensel father Michael George Hensel is a carpenter and a landscaper by profession. Mike is the father of four children including the twins.
Mike is living a happy married life with Patty. He became a father for the first time in 1990 after the birth of Abby and Brittany. The two sisters were Dicephalic Parapagus twins.
Doctors suggested separation surgery on his children at birth. But he was aware of the fatal consequences and thus refused the offer. He helped his children to learn to live together and work in coordination.
Brother Dakota Hensel
Dakota Dean Hensel is the younger brother of Abby and Brittany. Dakota, nicknamed Koty, is the second child of the Hensel couple.
Sister Morgan Hensel
Morgan Michelle Hensel is the younger sister of Abby and Brittany. Morgan is the youngest among the Hensel siblings.
They Are Dicephalic Parapagus Twins
Abby and Brittany are a rare kind of twins known as Dicephalic Parapagus. The conjoined twins have two heads but a single body.
The twins have a single body with separate necks and heads. Their body has two arms and two legs. Each of the twins controls one arm and one leg. Performing any activity requires coordination from both of them.
At birth, the twins had a rudimentary arm between the bases of their necks attached to a shoulder blade at the back. The arm was removed through surgery, leaving the shoulder blade.
Brittany’s head tilts towards the left which causes her to appear shorter than Abby. At the same time, her leg is also two inches shorter than Abby’s.
Abby’s continual spinal growth was halted through surgery after Brittany stopped growing prematurely. Aged 12, the twins underwent another surgery to correct scoliosis and to expand their chest cavity to prevent breathing trouble. The surgery was carried out at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare.
In the case of Abby and Brittany the sensation of touching and feeling things is limited to their own side. This implies that the touch sensation of the right part of the body is felt by Abby alone whereas Brittany gets the sensation from the left part.
The twin sisters have two completely separate spinal cords, two hearts with a shared circulatory system, two sets of lungs, two stomaches, and three kidneys.
Hensel Twins Parents Decided Against The Separation Surgery
Abby and Brittany Hensel parents made a decision not to perform the separation surgery on the twins. Mike and Patty thought the risk was too big for their children.
Doctors suggested a separation surgery for Abby and Brittany at birth, but the girls’ parents considered it too dangerous. Hence, the girls learned to use a single torso in coordination.
A separation surgery had a high risk that either one or both of the children could lose their lives. Even if they manage to survive, the chances of getting disabled were equally there.
When Hensels made their first TV appearance, they were six years old and still learning to use their body in coordination. Their persistence to not go through the separation surgery allowed them to thrive with a single body.
In an interview, the twins said that they never wished to get separated because otherwise, they would never be able to do all the things like playing softball, running, and so on.
As the two sisters grew up, learned to walk, and developed other skills, their parents feel happy about the decision they made. They stated that the quality of life for their twin children would be far less had they been separated.
The case of the Hensel twins also caused concern for many medical experts. Some predicted that their life expectancy will be drastically reduced. Even at birth, the doctors were doubtful that the twins would survive the night after delivery.
Abby and Brittany have beaten all the odds, and the sisters have gone on to live healthy and full lives. They are living a life of a normal human beings and moving ahead with definite plans in life.
Abby And Brittany Hensel Family Tragedy Is A Hoax
Abby And Brittany Hensel family tragedy is false information circulating in the media. The conjoined twins have merely chosen to stay away from the media.
Some online advertisements and news portals have been circulating the information that there is ‘sad news on the Hensel twins and her family.’ Such sites are using the title to mislead the viewers as there is no such news available.
The social media silence of the famous Hensel twins may have helped to fuel the rumor. The sisters have decided to stay away from the limelight for now. They haven’t appeared on TV for almost a year now and are also inactive on social media.
Abby and Brittany are famous conjoined twin sisters who have survived all the odds and thrived together. They made their first TV appearance at the age of six and have been in the limelight ever since.
The story of the conjoined twins is inspiring and leaves us speechless. They have shared their story on National television at different times. However, they are tight-lipped when it comes to relationships.
The 32-year-olds decided to take a break from media appearances after they were frequently confronted about their romantic relationship. The sisters also took their time off from social media, so we don’t hear much from them.
The twin sisters have a joint Instagram account under @abbyandbrittany with more than 92.5K followers. However, they haven’t posted any new photos since 2015.
Where Are The Twins Now?
Abby and Brittany live in Minnesota and have a job in a primary school. The sisters have entered their thirties and living their lives to the fullest.
The 32-year-olds teach fourth and fifth grade at Sunnyside Elementary in New Brighton, Minnesota. The most interesting fact is that the twins have separate teaching licenses but they share the paycheck. The school kids and staff have clearly mentioned that Abby and Brittany’s condition is not an issue when it comes to teaching.
Paul Good, the Principal of the school, said that he offered the twins the job of a teacher because of their qualifications and ability to inspire people to chase their dreams regardless of the situation.
Abby and Brittany have driving licenses. They passed their driving test, aged 16. Talking to news media, the twins shared that Abby takes control of the pedals and the gear shifter while Brittany looks after blinkers and lights. Brittany also added that Abby loves to drive faster than her.
The conjoined twins showed great determination and overcame the physical disadvantages. They haven’t let anything stop them from doing everyday things. The Hensel twins have learned to thrive as two people sharing a single body. However, they have their own preferences which can sometimes cause inconveniences.
The twin sisters eagerly share their life experiences but choose to remain silent when it comes to romantic relationships. They have time and again refused to discuss their dating lives. However, they have expressed their desire to have a family someday. They stated in the media that they have hope of becoming mothers in near future.
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