VIDEOS Conjoined twins Abigail and Brittany Hensel to star on TLC

Aug, 09, 2012 | AUTHOR: Darren O; | Related : Abby & Brittany, Abby Hensel, Brittany Hensel

Last night TLC rolled out the reality red carpet for aunt Honey Boo Boo and while they were at it they also loaded up a sneak-peek video for another new show, Abby & Brittany.

If you’re not familiar with their story, Abigail and Brittany Hensel are conjoined twins. The 22-year-olds are no stranger to the spotlight as they’ve been featured in Life magazine and on Oprah.

Check out the first look at their show:

The sisters were born on March 7th, 1990 in Carver County, Minnesota. They have a younger brother and sister. According to Wikipedia, Brittany and Abby:

…are dicephalic parapagus twins, meaning that they are conjoined twins of whom each has a separate head, but whose bodies are joined. They are highly symmetric, giving the appearance of having just a single body with little variation from normal proportion. In fact, several vital organs are doubled up, each twin having a separate heart, stomach, spine and spinal cord.

Each twin controls her half of their body, operating one of the arms and one of the legs. This means that as infants, the initial learning of physical processes that required bodily coordination, such as clapping, crawling, and walking required the cooperation of both children. While each is able to eat and write separately and simultaneously, activities such as running and swimming must be coordinated and alternate symmetrically. Other activities as diverse as brushing hair and driving a car require that each twin perform a sequence of quite separate actions that coordinate with the other.

Here is the inspiring cover of Life featuring the sisters:

Following the birth, their parents refused the option of separation when doctors informed them that it was highly unlikely that both would survive. At the age of 16 they were featured on TLC and the clip below from that piece on YouTube has over 40 million views! People are certainly interested in Abby and Brittany’s unique story:

The show will premiere on Tuesday August, 28th at 10PM EST.

spacer

You also might like

No items

Diane

TLC allowed Honey Boo Boo to have a show, why not these girls?
Jenelleevansisabadmom

I thought they didn’t want to be in the spotlight.. I can only assume TLC offered them a very fat check..
Whats this here..

I LOVE these girls, they are soo inspiring! I cant wait to see their show! Theres a few documentaries about them on youtube.
- Bailey
  
  Inspiring? How are they inspiring? Do they inspire you splice your body with another person and learn how to cope as such?
  I think the word you meant to say was “interesting”, but you didn’t want to seem like an A-hole.
  You know, its completely acceptable to call something/someone/some people interesting without it being rude. By calling them inspiring though you make yourself sound like a dufus.
  - jessi
    
    They are inspiring because they have overcome what some would see as an impossible life and learned how to work together and make the best of what they are. People complain about having to deal with less, but these girls have and amazing outlook on life and choose to be positive. So yes they are INSPIRING
helloisitme

Im curious as to why they’ve decided now that they are adults to stay conjoined. I’m sure its all they know, its just very hard for me to wrap my mind around as I value my autonomy more than almost anything. Regardless they seem like lovely inspiring young ladies. I hope their show does well.
- Bailey
  
  “Im curious as to why they’ve decided now that they are adults to stay conjoined”
  
  Wait…What?
  They are essentially 2 heads that share a single body. There is absolutely no other option of living for these two women. At all. Not that that is a bad thing as they seem completely happy, capable, independant and normal, but there never has been or ever will be the option of being seperated and both still living.
- http://www.mailboxjourney.com Melanie
  
  If they were separated, one would die. They have:
  
  2 heads
  2 spines merging at the coccyx and joined at the thorax by sections of ribs. Surgery was employed to correct scoliosis.
  2 completely separate spinal cords
  2 arms (originally 3, but rudimentary central arm was surgically removed, leaving central shoulder blade in place)
  1 broad ribcage with 2 highly fused sternums and traces of bridging ribs. Surgery was employed to expand the pleural cavities.
  2 breasts
  2 hearts in a shared circulatory system (nutrition, respiration, medicine taken by either affects both)
  4 lungs with the medial lungs moderately fused, not involving Brittany’s upper right lobe; three pleural cavities
  1 diaphragm with well-coordinated involuntary breathing, slight central defect
  2 stomachs
  2 gallbladders
  1 liver, enlarged and elongated right lobe
  Y-shaped small intestine, which experiences a slightly spastic double peristalsis at the juncture
  1 large intestine with one colon
  3 kidneys: 2 left, 1 right
  1 bladder
  1 set of reproductive organs
  2 separate half-sacrums, which converge distally
  1 slightly broad pelvis
  2 legs