They claimed to have a “normal” life: how the world's oldest Siamese twins lived, who died at 62 ?

Lori Et George Schappell avaient 62 ans. MAXPPP – Henry Lamb/Photowire/BEImages

Lori et George Schappell, 62 ans, les jumeaux siamois les plus vieux du monde, sont décédés le 7 avril 2024 à l’hôpital de l’Université de Pennsylvanie

They were the world's oldest conjoined twins, a status certified by Guinness World Records. Aged 62, Lori and George Schappell died on April 7 at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. For the moment, the reasons for the death remain unknown, specifies Le Parisien.

Living Independently

According to doctors, they were not expected to live more than thirty years. The craniopagus Siamese twins, that is to say linked by the skull, shared bones, blood vessels but also 30% of their brain, details the daily newspaper, which adds that it is not only the same but also 30% of their brains. rsquo;this is the rarest form of conjoined twins (2 to 6% of cases).

Guinness World Records are saddened to learn of the passing of Lori and George Schappell, the world's oldest conjoined twins.

George enjoyed a successful career as a country singer, whilst Lori was a trophy-winning ten-pin bowler.

Read more about their lives below 👇

— Guinness World Records (@GWR) April 12, 2024

Lori and George were born twins on September 18, 1961. George was called Dori before announcing in 2007 that he was transgender. He also suffered from spina bifida, that is to say a lack of closure of the spinal column, details the site MSD Manuals. This other problem forced George to use a wheelchair, pushed by Lori.

If the twins were related, their need for independence was very important and tried "to live as independently as possible" throughout their lives, the obituary explains. If the shower curtain when washing was used as a barrier, Lori and George claimed to have a "normal" life. "My theory is: why fix what's not broken ?", launched George in a documentary several decades ago.

When it came to their love and sexual lives, there too the Siamese twins faced a problem, but they had their solutions. "When I went on dates, George would bring books to read and, since we weren't facing each other, he could ignore any kissing", affirmed Lori in the columns of Sun.

Lori and George Schappell's father, their six brothers and sisters, other family members and friends will have to grieve.