When you think about conjoined twins, the first thing that pops to mind is normally about the plausibility of them separating.

As there are different types of conjoined twins, there are also different likelihoods that two people can become their own separate bodies with surgery.

For example, Abby and Brittany Hensel are dicephalus conjoined twins which means they share organs from the waist down, so surgery would be unlikely.

The world’s oldest set of conjoined twins were Ronnie and Donnie Galyon who were also similarly conjoined too.

The pair grew up and joined carnivals and circuses as toddlers after their father drove them around as an attraction.

They ended up outliving the age most people believed they would make it to.

Ronnie and Donnie Galyon joined the circus at 3 (YouTube/@insideedition)

Dying at age 68 in 2020, they even made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for their lifespan length, outliving their heroes, Chang and Eng Bunker by six years.

Ronnie and Donnie were each born with their own heart, stomach, liver, lungs, kidneys, arms and legs.

However, they were joined by their urinary tract, with a semi-shared bladder which emptied into one penis which Donnie controlled.

Thanks to their three decades in the circus industry, when they retired at the age of 39, the twins were able to afford a home, having managed to support their family for years.

They lived independently in Dayton, US, for 20 years and even worked out how to manage household tasks around each other, such as shaving (they shaved each other) and doing their own laundry.

The twins managed to get around in a specially made wheelchair (YouTube/@insideedition)

However, Ronnie and Donnie did have a huge issue with sleeping and could only sleep one at a time by taking it un turns as they were unable to both lie flat at once.

That was until they were in their late fifties and were gifted a specially made bed.

In their later life, the twins were able to be supported by their brother Jim and his wife Mary, while still managing to get around the community using their custom-built wheelchair.

Ultimately, even though doctors put their mental development at around 10 years old, Ronnie and Donnie were happy and fulfilled with their love of car toys and games.

Despite their struggles and differing opinions (which would sometimes lead to them physically fighting each other), they never thought about separation.

While doctors had already figured that it would be too risky, the pair shared that whenever they were asked if they wished they had ever been separated, they said no.

According to Michigan Live, Ronnie and Donnie both replied in unison: “God made us this way. Let Jesus separate us.”

For the last few years of their life, the twins were taken care of by Jim and Mary.

In 2009, they were hospitalised after blood clots in Ronnie’s lungs left the pair needing round-the-clock care.

Sadly, Ronnie and Donnie passed away due to heart failure on 4 July 2020, aged 68 years and 253 days.

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Real Families

Topics: Health, US News, Guinness World Record

The world’s oldest conjoined twins have died.

Lori and George Schappell lived 62 years and 202 days before they died on 7 April, according to an obituary posted online by Leibensperger Funeral Homes.

The pair held the title of the world’s oldest living conjoined twins since 2022.

Guinness World Records reported that the pair, born in 1961 in Pennsylvania, had partially fused skulls and shared vital blood vessels as well as 30 percent of their brain.

The twins proved doctors wrong as they defied all medical predictions that they would not make it past the age of 30.

The Schappells died at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Their cause of death is undisclosed.

They died aged 62. (Jason Kempin/FilmMagic)

Despite sharing part of their brain and being attached at the head, they managed to live their own lives.

In 2007, George came out as a trans man after keeping it from everyone (including his sister) for decades. “I have known from a very young age that I should have been a boy,” he told The Sun.

“I loved playing with trains and hated girly outfits. I kept my desire to change sex hidden – even from Lori – for many years.”

He added: “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.”

The pair had pretty different hobbies and interests too as Lori won trophies for tenpin bowling, while George had a career as a country singer.

During the 90s, Lori spent several years working at a hospital laundry while arranging her schedule around her brother’s gigs – travelling the world to perform.

(Jason Kempin/FilmMagic)

The tenpin bowler was able-bodied, but her twin had spina bfida and could not walk, he sat in a wheelchair style stool which Lori pushed around.

The pair lived on their own in a two-bedroom apartment where they each had their own room.

They’d alternate nights spent in each one and took turns practicing their hobbies, during which time the other twin would effectively ‘zone out’.

Lori and George would also shower separately, using the shower curtain as a barrier while one washed and the other stood outside.

Their obituaries add that they are survived by their dad, six siblings, several nieces and nephews, two aunts and an uncle, and an extended family of friends.

In a 1997 documentary, the twins were asked if they’d ever be separated.

George said: “Would we be separated? Absolutely not. My theory is: why fix what is not broken?”

Featured Image Credit: Jason Kempin/FilmMagic