Photo Credit: Shannon Stapleton, Reuters
The world's oldest conjoined twins, Lori and George Schappell, died at the age of 62 on Sunday 7th at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania however the cause of death still remains unknown. Born on September 18, 1961, in Pennsylvania, USA, they were recognized as the oldest female conjoined twins ever recorded. Despite being joined at the head and sharing vital blood vessels and 30% of their brains, the twins led remarkably individual lives.
Lori, an able-bodied individual, and George who had spina bifida and relied on a wheelchair pushed by Lori, pursued diverse interests. George excelled as a country singer, while Lori excelled as a ten-pin bowler, even working at a hospital laundry to accommodate George's career travels. Their unique story gained attention when George, originally called Dori, came out as transgender in 2007.
Living independently in a two-bedroom apartment in Pennsylvania, Lori and George took turns practicing their separate hobbies and maintaining privacy by alternating sleeping arrangements and showering separately. Despite medical professionals' predictions that they wouldn't live past the age of 30, the twins surpassed expectations, becoming the oldest female conjoined twins in 2015.
Throughout their lives, they appeared on various television shows such as Jerry Springer, The Maury Povich Show, The Howard Stern Radio Show and also documentaries, sharing insights into their unique bond and individual aspirations. In previous discussions, Lori dismissed the misconception that one twin's death would inevitably lead to the death of the other, stating that they would undergo emergency separation if necessary. George agreed with this sentiment in a 1997 documentary, firmly rejecting the idea of separation and advocating for maintaining their bond.
Lori believed in their ability for personal privacy despite their physical connection and expressed her aspiration to one day have a family of her own. On the other hand when George was asked about being intimate with a future spouse, he imagined it would feel more like having a brother-in-law and stressed the idea of keeping a distance from intimate situations.
