Lori and George Schappell have passed away at the age of 62.
Up until their deaths, they were recognized as the world’s oldest conjoined twins
Credit: Jason Kempin / Getty
The siblings, known for their remarkable bond and unique medical condition, died on Sunday at a hospital in Pennsylvania, according to their online obituaries.
The specific details surrounding their deaths remain undisclosed.
Born with partially-fused skulls and sharing 30 percent of their brains, Lori and George defied medical expectations from an early age. Despite doctors’ predictions that they wouldn’t surpass the age of 30, the twins continued to defy the odds, capturing the attention and admiration of people around the world with their resilience and closeness.
At 62, Lori and George Schappell were the oldest conjoined twins in the world. Credit: Jemal Countess/WireImage for PMK/HBH/Getty
Born on September 18, 1961, Lori previously told The Sun: “When we were born, the doctors didn’t think we’d make 30, but we proved them wrong.”
Despite being connected to one another throughout their entire lives, the twins had very different personalities and interests.
Lori was an accomplished 10-pin bowler and George, an enthusiastic country and western singer.
George was also transgender, revealing his true identity in an interview with The Sun several years ago.
Despite being assigned female at birth, George always knew deep down that he was a male. “I have known from a very young age that I should have been a boy,” George admitted. “I loved playing with trains and hated girly outfits. I kept my desire to change sex hidden – even from Lori – for many years.”
Speaking of the difficulty of coming out to his sister, George 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.”
Lori responded to her brother’s revelation with unwavering support: “Obviously it was a shock when Dori changed to George, but I am so proud of him. It was a huge decision but we have overcome so much in our lives and together we are such a strong team. Nothing can break that.”
Adding another layer to their fascinating lives, Lori shared that she was once engaged but tragically lost her fiancé to a drunk driving accident. When it comes to dating, Lori remains optimistic and doesn’t want her status as a conjoined twin to limit her experiences. “When I went on dates, George would bring along books to read and, as we don’t face each other, he could ignore any kissing,” she disclosed.
Lori stood at five feet one inch and was fully able-bodied, but George, who stood at four feet and four inches, lived with spina bifida.
Credit: Jason Kempin/FilmMagic/Getty Images
The twins took part in an Our Life documentary in 1997, which showcased how the siblings went about their daily lives. During that interview, Lori expressed her desire to have children, saying: “I would love to have myself a family – a husband and children of mine.”
Sadly, she was never able to fulfil her dream.
Our thoughts go out to Lori and George’s family and loved ones at this time.