Conjoined twin Abby Hensel is now married

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents should have separated them.

One would have to die. It would be like Sophie’s choice. I think they did the right thing.

+1. Both could have died. The risk of losing one or both was too great.

One is married and one is tagging along. Abby is 4 inches taller so the other twin has to walk on her toes to keep up. What kind of life is that? They only have one set of reproductive organs. So if they get pregnant who is listed as the mother?

It's a better life than many people have. They have very full lives.

[Anonymous]

I’m curious about the lives. What would happen if one of these wonderful ladies dies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m curious about the lives. What would happen if one of these wonderful ladies dies?

Then the other one would die shortly thereafter, obviously

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why the parents decided not to separate them even if one child wouldn't have survived.

Wow wow what a weird perspective. I remember watching them originally on Oprah back in the day, and it was very unlikely that both would survive and if one did they may not have been able to fully function.

Having one alive would be better than this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents should have separated them.

One would have to die. It would be like Sophie’s choice. I think they did the right thing.

Sometimes parents have to make tough choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents should have separated them.

One would have to die. It would be like Sophie’s choice. I think they did the right thing.

+1. Both could have died. The risk of losing one or both was too great.

One is married and one is tagging along. Abby is 4 inches taller so the other twin has to walk on her toes to keep up. What kind of life is that? They only have one set of reproductive organs. So if they get pregnant who is listed as the mother?

It's a better life than many people have. They have very full lives.

They have no individual autonomy. One has to go where the other wants to go

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents should have separated them.

One would have to die. It would be like Sophie’s choice. I think they did the right thing.

Sometimes parents have to make tough choices.

I don't know if this is posted somewhere already, but the parents must have known there was a conjoined fetus the mom was carrying. Were they not advised about the details & what it would mean if they carried to term?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents should have separated them.

One would have to die. It would be like Sophie’s choice. I think they did the right thing.

+1. Both could have died. The risk of losing one or both was too great.

One is married and one is tagging along. Abby is 4 inches taller so the other twin has to walk on her toes to keep up. What kind of life is that? They only have one set of reproductive organs. So if they get pregnant who is listed as the mother?

It's a better life than many people have. They have very full lives.

They have no individual autonomy. One has to go where the other wants to go

Their parents had autonomy when they decided how to deal with their daughters' condition. Your question, "What kind of life is that?" betrays supreme ignorance about how many, many humans live.

This is one of those situations you can't judge unless you're there yourself. Curiosity is understandable, but the twins and their family have had to make deeply personal choices that are none of our business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why the parents decided not to separate them even if one child wouldn't have survived.

Wow wow what a weird perspective. I remember watching them originally on Oprah back in the day, and it was very unlikely that both would survive and if one did they may not have been able to fully function.

Having one alive would be better than this.

Well fortunately for you, you didn't have to make that choice. Do you have kids? Take a look at them and choose which one you will kill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents should have separated them.

One would have to die. It would be like Sophie’s choice. I think they did the right thing.

Sometimes parents have to make tough choices.

I don't know if this is posted somewhere already, but the parents must have known there was a conjoined fetus the mom was carrying. Were they not advised about the details & what it would mean if they carried to term?

No, she didn't even know she was having twins until the birth. They were only supposed to live a few days but miraculously we know the outcome.

"Parents Patty and Mike Hensel didn't know they were expecting conjoined twins. Patty's pregnancy appeared to be going swimmingly, and there was nothing alarming about any of her ultrasounds. Doctors later concluded that the twins' heads must have been perfectly aligned during each sonogram, giving the appearance of a fetus with just one head instead of two. However, their father may have caught on to a major clue during the pregnancy. In a 2001 piece, Time revealed that Mike had reportedly heard two heartbeats during one sonogram, but his observation was dismissed.

At the time of the twins' birth, Patty was scheduled to undergo a C-section because doctors thought the fetus was in the breech position — a term used to describe when a baby is positioned in the womb bottom-first rather than head-first. When the conjoined twins were pulled out, revealing two heads, their physician, Dr. Joy Westerdahl, admitted that everyone in the delivery room was so stunned that the room fell silent "for about 30 seconds."

Read More: https://www.nickiswift.com/109973/dont-know-abby-brittany-hensel/"

[Anonymous]

^ Remember this was 1990, no 3D sonograms, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents should have separated them.

One would have to die. It would be like Sophie’s choice. I think they did the right thing.

Sometimes parents have to make tough choices.

I don't know if this is posted somewhere already, but the parents must have known there was a conjoined fetus the mom was carrying. Were they not advised about the details & what it would mean if they carried to term?

No, she didn't even know she was having twins until the birth. They were only supposed to live a few days but miraculously we know the outcome.

"Parents Patty and Mike Hensel didn't know they were expecting conjoined twins. Patty's pregnancy appeared to be going swimmingly, and there was nothing alarming about any of her ultrasounds. Doctors later concluded that the twins' heads must have been perfectly aligned during each sonogram, giving the appearance of a fetus with just one head instead of two. However, their father may have caught on to a major clue during the pregnancy. In a 2001 piece, Time revealed that Mike had reportedly heard two heartbeats during one sonogram, but his observation was dismissed.

At the time of the twins' birth, Patty was scheduled to undergo a C-section because doctors thought the fetus was in the breech position — a term used to describe when a baby is positioned in the womb bottom-first rather than head-first. When the conjoined twins were pulled out, revealing two heads, their physician, Dr. Joy Westerdahl, admitted that everyone in the delivery room was so stunned that the room fell silent "for about 30 seconds."

Read More: https://www.nickiswift.com/109973/dont-know-abby-brittany-hensel/"

What are the odds two heads would perfectly align in each of multiple ultrasounds given?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've followed them for years. They've always tried to stress their unique individualities despite their connectedness. Legalities aside, it's hard to see how someone can be married to one, but not the other. If the husband is really only in love with Abby, how does this not negatively impact Brittany? With the exception of kissing, they will experience the same things physically, but emotionally he is in love with just one? How could that not be difficult? I hope Brittany can find love, too.

And what happens if Brittany wants to date and get married?

Maybe he’s the greatest guy in the world. Or maybe he gets off feeling like he gets to be with two women all the time.

I feel sorry for Brittany regardless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents should have separated them.

One would have to die. It would be like Sophie’s choice. I think they did the right thing.

Sometimes parents have to make tough choices.

I don't know if this is posted somewhere already, but the parents must have known there was a conjoined fetus the mom was carrying. Were they not advised about the details & what it would mean if they carried to term?

No, she didn't even know she was having twins until the birth. They were only supposed to live a few days but miraculously we know the outcome.

"Parents Patty and Mike Hensel didn't know they were expecting conjoined twins. Patty's pregnancy appeared to be going swimmingly, and there was nothing alarming about any of her ultrasounds. Doctors later concluded that the twins' heads must have been perfectly aligned during each sonogram, giving the appearance of a fetus with just one head instead of two. However, their father may have caught on to a major clue during the pregnancy. In a 2001 piece, Time revealed that Mike had reportedly heard two heartbeats during one sonogram, but his observation was dismissed.

At the time of the twins' birth, Patty was scheduled to undergo a C-section because doctors thought the fetus was in the breech position — a term used to describe when a baby is positioned in the womb bottom-first rather than head-first. When the conjoined twins were pulled out, revealing two heads, their physician, Dr. Joy Westerdahl, admitted that everyone in the delivery room was so stunned that the room fell silent "for about 30 seconds."

Read More: https://www.nickiswift.com/109973/dont-know-abby-brittany-hensel/"

What are the odds two heads would perfectly align in each of multiple ultrasounds given?

Someone messed up big time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents should have separated them.

One would have to die. It would be like Sophie’s choice. I think they did the right thing.

Sometimes parents have to make tough choices.

I don't know if this is posted somewhere already, but the parents must have known there was a conjoined fetus the mom was carrying. Were they not advised about the details & what it would mean if they carried to term?

No, she didn't even know she was having twins until the birth. They were only supposed to live a few days but miraculously we know the outcome.

"Parents Patty and Mike Hensel didn't know they were expecting conjoined twins. Patty's pregnancy appeared to be going swimmingly, and there was nothing alarming about any of her ultrasounds. Doctors later concluded that the twins' heads must have been perfectly aligned during each sonogram, giving the appearance of a fetus with just one head instead of two. However, their father may have caught on to a major clue during the pregnancy. In a 2001 piece, Time revealed that Mike had reportedly heard two heartbeats during one sonogram, but his observation was dismissed.

At the time of the twins' birth, Patty was scheduled to undergo a C-section because doctors thought the fetus was in the breech position — a term used to describe when a baby is positioned in the womb bottom-first rather than head-first. When the conjoined twins were pulled out, revealing two heads, their physician, Dr. Joy Westerdahl, admitted that everyone in the delivery room was so stunned that the room fell silent "for about 30 seconds."

Read More: https://www.nickiswift.com/109973/dont-know-abby-brittany-hensel/"

What are the odds two heads would perfectly align in each of multiple ultrasounds given?

Someone messed up big time.

U/S technology was lacking back then. Many kids were "misgendered" in utero in the 80s/90s and came out as a surprise to their parents. Technology has come a LONG way.