The oldest living conjoined twins named Lori and George Schappell who lives in Pennsylvania, America were born with 30 per cent of their frontal lobe brain tissue and critical blood vessels joined in the year 1961. Doctors revealed to them that it’s impossible to separate them from each other.
The sisters have become 62 years old now and are popular as the oldest living craniopagus twins in the entire world.
The surprising thing is that despite being joined, two of them have been living their lives differently – George who was born Dori, changed her identity from woman to man in 2007. On the other hand, Lori is one of the successful bowlers and had been in multiple relationships, she also got engaged to her boyfriend, however, he lost his life in a car accident.
They sat and spoke with The Sun for an interview in 2020, where the twins described how they live their separate lives while connecting with each other.
“When we were born, the doctors didn’t think we’d make 30, but we proved them wrong,” said Lori. “We have learned so much in the last 50 years and will continue living life to the full.”
Lori who is 5ft 1in tall has an able body, while the other one, George is 4ft 4in and cannot walk properly because of spine bifida, he has to use a special wheelchair for mobility.
“Most people don’t believe us, but we do have very normal lives. We travel, tidy our flat and Lori has even had a boyfriend. Nothing stops us doing what we want,” George shared with the outlet.
When they both were kids, a Pennsylvania court gave the verdict that because of the twin’s situation, their family couldn’t take care of them correctly and placed them in an institution where people suffering from mental disabilities live. But, George and Lori both don’t have any kind of mental disability.
“There was absolutely nothing wrong with us, apart from physically. But people didn’t know any better. We learned to look after ourselves from a very young age and got excellent grades at school,” Lori told.
They fought a legal case against that institution as Lori had to attend the secretarial college. The court decided that they can leave the institution now and live their lives like normal people.
“We had to prove we could live on our own, and we were finally allowed to be independent. Now we have a two-bedroom flat and alternate the nights we sleep in each other’s rooms,” said Lori. “My room is much more girly and reflects my personality, while George’s has all his music posters.”
Lori’s twin named Dori came transformed into a man and started his life as George in 2007.
“I have known from a very young age that I should have been a boy. I loved playing with trains and hated girly outfits. I kept my desire to change sex hidden — even from Lori — for many years,” he said.
He further said, “It was so tough, but I was getting older and I simply didn’t want to live a lie. I knew I had to live my life the way I wanted.”
Luckily, George never went through any surgery for changing his gender, he just introduced himself as a man.
“Obviously it was a shock when Dori changed to George, but I am so proud of him. It was a huge decision but we have overcome so much in our lives and together we are such a strong team. Nothing can break that,” Lori described.
While talking about their love lives, Lori told that she had had multiple romantic relationships with multiple guys and she also had intimate moments with some of them.
“I lost my virginity at the age of 23 to my second boyfriend. When I went on dates, George would bring along books to read and, as we don’t face each other, he could ignore any kissing. I don’t see why being a conjoined twin should stop me having a love life and feeling like a woman.”
Unfortunately, Lori’s fiancé died in a road accident after being killed by a drunk driver in 2017.
“It was devastating and my heart is broken,” she said to the publication.
“I am still in contact with his family and have only recently started dating again. George looked after me. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t know if I could have lived through the heartbreak.”
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