While channel-hopping recently, I stumbled upon a new show on TLC called "Abby and Brittany", which examines the unique life of the conjoined Hensel twins. I have to admit that at first I had trouble believing what I was seeing, having had no experience of such a phenomenon, and had never seen an image such as the one shown above.
Abby and Brittany are effectively dicephalic conjoined twins, and theirs is truly a sharing of one human body by two individuals. It's not quite as straightforward as that given that each twin has their own heart, lungs, stomach and spine, but other vital organs such as the liver are shared between the two.
These two young women are now entering the adult world, having both obtained Master's degrees in Education, and the show in part details their search for jobs, and examines the whole issue of whether they should be paid two salaries, or can only expect to share one, as they do almost everything else.
I have not seen much of this show so therefore cannot comment at great length on it, but that's not the major point of today's blog. The thing that hit me over the head with a hammer was how astonishingly courageous, joyous and inspirational these two women are, and how they could often put the rest of us to shame.
If you think of the things that all of us moan about each day, or how we let ultimately insignificant little things get to us and ruin our day, and compare that with what these two women must go through all day, everyday, then you suddenly begin to feel really ungrateful.
Even walking down the street, anywhere, has to be a challenge for these two just in terms of the unwanted attention that their uniqueness attracts. Every time that they enter a bar or restaurant or store, heads turn to look at theirs. They are made a spectacle of, even if all they want is the luxury that we all take for granted in that we can simply sneak in and grab a seat in the corner and be left alone.
This show is worth watching, particularly for anyone who doesn't like their hair, doesn't like their eyes, doesn't like their weight, doesn't like their height, doesn't like some body part, etcetc, and complains to friends and family about it all the time.
Abby and Brittany are truly inspirational individuals who change my day because they bang me over the head with a frying pan (metaphorically speaking, of course!) and remind me that compared to them, I have it easy. Any challenges or daily issues that I have to deal with are generally miniscule alongside the huge daily challenges that these two seem to brush off both with ease as well as a big smile.
Their story is important in that theirs is a totally unique and phenomenal situation and life. Further, I think that they most definitely are as phenomenal as their situation, and the two are likely to turn out to be one massive source of inspiration for millions.
If this show on TLC also affords them some little luxuries in their rather complex lives, I hope that they have fun with that and it is only what that they deserve for the courage they present every day, not least now that they now will become subject to much greater media scrutiny. Bravo, girls! ;) - Kevin Mc
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