Lori and George Schappell, the oldest living conjoined twins in the world, have passed away at the age of 62 on April 7. The twins were born in Pennsylvania in 1961 and held the record for the oldest living conjoined twins until their death. They were craniopagus twins, meaning they shared partially fused skulls and vital blood vessels, a rare form of conjoined twinning.
As the twins grew up together, they lived very different lives. Lori was able to walk while George had spina bifida and couldn’t walk on his own, so Lori would push him around on a movable stool wherever they went. George worked as a professional country singer, while Lori earned a college degree and worked in a hospital, packing medical instruments.
The twins lived together in a high-rise apartment designed for the elderly in Reading, Pennsylvania, where they managed to live independently. They were very creative in finding ways to accommodate each other’s preferences, such as showering at different times of the day. Despite their physical challenges, the twins believed in compromise and making the best out of their situation.
Lori and George lived the first 24 years of their lives in an institution for mentally disabled people, after their parents placed them there out of fear and confusion. They only left the institution when the wife of a former Pennsylvania governor helped prove to state officials that they did not suffer from intellectual disabilities. The twins were later featured in television documentaries and talk shows, and even acted in an episode of the TV show “Nip/Tuck.”
George Schappell came out as transgender in 2007, making the twins the first same-sex conjoined twins to identify as different genders. They were also the first set of conjoined twins to live as different genders. The twins believed that they were not meant to be separated and did not believe in attempts to surgically separate them, as they felt it would interfere with the natural order of things.
The Schappell twins were known for their positive outlook on life and belief in compromise. Despite their physical challenges and differences, they were able to live fulfilling and independent lives, pursuing their own interests and careers. Their unique story and resilience have touched the hearts of many and have left a lasting legacy in the world of conjoined twins.
