The Twins Who Share a Body
Although they are two completely separate people, these accomplished teens share a body and have just two arms and legs between them.
Born in 1990, the girls have been brought up in a small, tightly knit community in Minnesota, almost completely protected from prying eyes and inquisitive stares.
To their friends and family, they are distinct people with very different personalities, needs, tastes and desires.
But to the outside world they are a medical mystery – particularly given the fact that they can do virtually all the same things as their friends, including playing the piano, riding a bike, swimming and playing softball. "Their personalities make them inspirational," says their mother Patty.
"They never give up; anything they want to do, they go out and do it." The medical world is keen to find out how two separate brains and nervous systems can work in such a perfectly co-ordinated way, but the twins and their family have always resisted non-essential medical tests.
"The family want to treat them as though they are just like everyone else," says Joy Westerdahl, the girls’ doctor, who admits that it is a mystery how their unique physiology functions.
As they enter adulthood, the twins are likely to leave the haven of their home town and face the wider world. In preparation for that time, they have taken part in this intimate documentary to show the world what it is like to be joined for life.
One thought that keeps occuring to me is this:
When it comes to marriage according to the State of Minnesota; are they considered 2 people or 1.
Could you imagine NEVER, EVER being alone? They have to be the most connected—literally and figuratively—out of any human beings in the world. Quite a spiritual bond with one another to be able to tolerate them constantly, forever.
They are so amazing..I hope they have a good life.For all those who wonder how or why would God do this,know that He is the Most Wise and He never burdens a soul with more than they can bear.This just makes me belief in Him more for if there is no God why would this happen?
what a wonderful family :)
I would like to thank the twins and the producers of this film for sharing this fascinating glimpse into their lives. I have a greater appreciation for their personhood, and their teamwork and community's support.
They're sooooooo cute!!! <3
thank goodness this is not the first doc i have enjoyed on this site. if it was i should never have returned after reading some of the ridiculous comments posted here. what ever happened to the concept of live and let live?? or religious tolerance? if someone is trying to force whatever on you there is always the option to say "no thank you" or "i disagree but respect your right to your opinion". how is it religion always ends up being an issue??? it was never even brought into the doc. PLEASE, for the rest of us who tolerate everyone's lifes decisions, save these diatribes for the appropriate documentaries.......and really, poop?? wtf....
Why don't these films about conjoined twins EVER fully address issues of sexuality? I always find that a little frustrating. The doctor intimates that these girls have one uterus and that they menstruate normally. The girls say they want to be mothers but that, after all, they don't have it all figured out because they're just sixteen. How do they contend with the desire to have sex? Do they seek boyfriends?
Two truly remarkable Human beings, who have managed to overcome what Nature has given them. To all those who still believe the outdated myths of about the existence of a God, please tell me why in his divine wisdom did he create them & was it in his own image ? The girls should be an inspiration to us all, that no matter who life throws at us we can overcome it. I wish them both all the best for the future & hope that they both have a long & happy life.
As the only living pair, they should opt to have tests and try to figure out how it works. If it were me I'd want that, I'd feel obligated for any future conjoined twins in the same position, that maybe werent so lucky and had more complications. Im not saying they should let themselves become guinea pigs...but they should at least try to help further the knowledge of this condition. It could save other twins' lives.
They seem to be lovely girls, I really hope they have long happy lives :)
My sympathy to the both of them. Its situations like this that convince me that there is no compassionate loving god out there in the void watching over and nurturing his creations. On the contrary this would point to God as a cosmic clown with a vicious mean streak and cruel sense of humor. Or the more likely truth that the universe is devoid of an interventionist God altogether.
Lolz, I wonder who would married to her / them. Man already face problems with only just one mouth of woman to speak...:P
By all means two remarkable people.
What happens if one of them dies before the other?
This was such an interesting documentary. People need to see this and learn to stop taking photos. Pretty impressive to overcome odds like that, and do the things that these girls do. Good for them for not submitting themselves to being lab rats, but living life to it's fullest and crossing the bridges when they get to them.
I think the big question is, how many tits does it have?
The girls, who were born in Carver County is a county located in the state of Minnesota. As of 2000, it has a total population was 70,205. Basically it's a rural area.
I wonder if they had not been born in such a "tight knit" community, but rather they had been born and raised in a metropolitan area of half a million or more, with a much larger Junior High and High School if they would have been so protected by their community?
I wonder too if children in Carver County who have other birth abnormalities, such as mental retardation, are as protected and accepted?
Mary - forgive my presumptuousness, but I'm assuming English is your second language? They said the family refuse to allow the Doctors to perform tests that aren't necessary, in other words, they refuse to allow their daughters to be used as guinea pigs, and experimented on. That's not being abusive, that's being a loving and protective parent, who's willing to advocate for the good of their children.
how could this not have been seen before birth. I think it is abuse that the mother does not let them receive proper medical care. This is a very sad video.
they are so cute ! most probably they will become very wise people having to deal with so much !
and they will never be alone !!! ;)
and what is the rating on this documentary? does anyone know ?
hope for the best for these two x
who wrote and produced this documentary?
two questions.... who gets the speeding ticket? when one dies what will happen to the other? I guess if one loses their license the other would have to drive with one arm and leg.
i like this girl(s) n there co-ordination. grate......