George and Lori Schappell, the eldest conjoined twins still alive, passed away. At the age of 62, they passed away in Pennsylvania, where they were born.
On September 18, 1961, George and Lori Schappell were born in Reading, Pennsylvania. Their bodies were apart, but their skulls were linked, creating a unique relationship between them. Important blood arteries and 30% of their brains were still attached.
According to their obituary, their extraordinary adventure came to a conclusion on April 7 at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. Their cause of death remains a secret.
George required a mobility assistance because of his spina bifida. To facilitate their movement together, Lori nudged and rotated his motorized stool. Only 2% to 6% of conjoined twins experience this kind of twinning, according to NBC Today. Theirs is the rarest kind.
When George transitioned in 2007, he created history, according to Guinness World Records. The first identical twins to identify as different genders were he and his sibling. When they traveled to London in 2011 to commemorate their 50th wedding anniversary, George spoke with The Sun about his experience transitioning to a male gender identity. “I have known that I should have been a boy from a very young age,” he remarked.
Both siblings started working at Reading Hospital after graduating from the Hiram G. Andrews Center. Despite living near to one another, they pursued different interests and pastimes. George pursued his passion for music and went on to become a successful country singer who toured the globe. Conversely, Lori possessed exceptional tenpin bowling skills.
The Schappells have lived alone since they were 24 years old, which is surprising. After living in an institution for a while, the siblings moved into a two-bedroom apartment where each had their own room. They discussed the value of privacy and demonstrated how, despite their physical proximity, they could still be by themselves when necessary.
Even if at the time it was not feasible for them to be apart, the Schappells refused to consider the possibility. Rather, they celebrated their special relationship.
“Should we part ways?” In a documentary from 1997, George stated, “Definitely not. Why repair what is not broken, in my opinion?
In 2002, Lori stated, “I don’t believe in separation,” to the Los Angeles Times.
We offer our sympathies to the friends and family of Lori and George during this difficult time.
