The world’s oldest conjoined twins spoke about the reason they never wanted to be separated, prior to passing away earlier this year.
Medical professionals doubted that they would survive the year, but the twins went on to live very full lives for 62 years after doctors said that they wouldn’t even make it past 30.
Defying all expectations, Lori Schappell and transgender twin George were born in 1961, with their skulls and left side of their foreheads fused together in Reading, Pennsylvania, US.
Lori and George Schappell were conjoined their whole lives. (Susan Watts/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
Medical science wasn’t advanced enough at the time of their birth to separate the craniopagus twins, but even when it became possible, as their brains weren’t fused, the twins were set of staying together for one particular reason.
Lori and George are drastically different to each other, leading independent and fulfilling lives.
George, who was originally called Dori, was born with spina bifida, which is when your spine doesn’t form properly as a baby, leaving a gap in the spine and potentially causing lower limb paralysis.
He was pushed in a wheelchair by Lori, and also began identifying as a man aged 46, while also becoming an award-winning country singer.
Lori had many boyfriends in her time, putting her time into ten pin bowling, winning numerous trophies as well.
But none of this stopped the twins from compromising for each other so they could both be happy, as George went on to pursue a further education as Lori wanted to work at a hospital laundry, where they both allowed each other to pursue their dreams, with George sitting quietly on a stool while Lori worked, for example.
In the 1990s, Lori quit that job so George could chase his dreams of being a country singer, taking on the stage name Reba, performing in the US, Japan and Germany to name a few.
When George sang songs such as the Fear of Being Alone on stage, Lori would sit next to him in silence, hidden under a blanket to avoid taking the spotlight away.
He was awarded best new country artist at the Los Angeles Music Awards in 1997 for his efforts.
