The world mourns the loss of the oldest known conjoined twins, Lori and George Schappell, who both died at the age of 62 in their hometown in Pennsylvania.
Lori and George were born on September 18, 1961, in Reading, Pennsylvania. They shared a rare bond: they were joined at the skull but had separate bodies. They were connected by 30% of their brains and vital blood vessels.
Her incredible life journey ended on April 7 at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, according to her obituary. The exact cause of death was not disclosed.
George, who suffered from spina bifida, used a walker device for support, while Lori facilitated their movements by pushing and guiding his wheelchair. Their form of conjoined twins is extremely rare, affecting only about 2 to 6 percent of congenital twin cases, according to NBC Today.
In a milestone in their lives, George underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2007, making them the first same-sex conjoined twins to identify as opposite genders, as recognized by Guinness World Records. During their trip to London in 2011 to celebrate their 50th birthday, George told The Sun about his journey, saying: “I knew from a very young age that I was meant to be a boy”.
Both Lori and George completed their training at the Hiram G. Andrews Center and later worked at Reading Hospital. Despite their physical proximity, they both pursued their own passions and hobbies. George followed his love of music as a country singer, delighting audiences around the world, while Lori thrived as an accomplished bowler.
Remarkably, the Schappells enjoyed an independent lifestyle since age 24. First they lived in a care facility, then they moved into a two-bedroom apartment where each had their own space. They stressed the importance of privacy and emphasized that despite their physical attachment, they found ways to enjoy solitude when needed.
“Would we ever split up? Absolutely not”, George explained in a 1997 documentary. “My theory is: Why fix something that isn’t broken?”
Lori expressed this opinion in a 2002 interview with the Los Angeles Times, saying: “I don’t believe in separation”. Our deepest condolences go out to Lori and George’s family and friends during this difficult time.