Abigail and Brittany Hensel

Abigail and Brittany Hensel

You might have seen the documentary Joined For Life about them a while back on the Discovery Channel. I thought their parents were really neat, and their reason for particpating in the documentary made a lot of sense: That as they got older and travelled outside their normal world, at least some people might say "Hey, I saw you guys on TV", rather than just everybody staring at them. An amazing story of some very normal people.

Comments

[Janice Weiss]

I thought I had read somewhrere that Abigail and Brittany were born on March 7th , which is my birthday also .. Every year I remember them and check to see how they are doing. Happy Birthday Girls!!!!

[Greg]

Yahoo reports:
Group Not Found

There is no group called Friends_of_Abigail_Hensel_and_Brittany_Hensel.

I've looked unsuccessfully for an update on the twins since viewing the Discovery channel documentary. Just wondering how they are doing. It's unfortunate that some make it impossible to have any public information disclosed about these two unique and wonderful individuals.

[Greg]

Well, I understand the need to protect the girls and how the internet is a haven for unsocialized misfits, but you still can't assume everyone is that way. Some of us here are adults and understand all about the privacy families need and that the Hensels owe nothing to enquiring minds. Just hope they are doing well, that's all.

[Tom McMahon]

Me too.

[desiree rockey]

I first saw a story on the girls several years ago and through the years have thought of them and hope they are doing well.

[pxuantu]

I desire to have full picture of Abigail & Brittany Hensel.

Thanks

[friend]

Hi, I'm from Minnesota and it sounded like some of you were wondering how the twins are getting along. I recently saw them at a softball game when they were playing against my school. They were really good at playing and everyone was very supportive. Many "go girls" and "you got it girls!" could be heard coming from supporters from both teams. It was really nice to see people were very accepting of the girls, and they seemed to be getting along well.

[Tom McMahon]

That's wonderful news. We all wish them nothing but the best!

[Greg]

Any news on the abc tv sitcom pilot they've done?

[Friends of Precious People]

"Any news on the abc tv sitcom pilot they've done?"

Is there any truth in this - Are you sure that it isn't just a rumour? I haven't heard or seen anything about this.

To be honest if Brittany & Abby were to go into acting, I'd be concerned that they would be exploited for their physical condition to get viewer ratings rather than for their individual talents as should be the case.

Chris.

[greg]

Why be so negative? Don't they deserve a chance to be real people and extend themselves into the real world with all it's dangers and excitement? These girls have beaten all the odds and the seem pretty spunky. THey could rock anybody's world I think and might not be as easily exploitable as you think. BTW, I didn't make this up. Take a look.

[Friends of Precious People]

Yes of course they do - as long as they don't end up getting hurt by it. If this is true Abby & Brittany would not be the first conjoined twins to be in an acting role - notable examples are Daisy & Violet Hilton and more recently Lori & Reba Schappel. However any such programme needs to be tastefully and sensitively produced.

[Friends of Precious People]

Here are details of this programme but see note below:

As of April 2005, the Hensel twins are in pre-production of a sitcom on the ABC television network, titled "At The Hip." The girls will star as Tina and Gina Fowler, sisters that don't always get along, but who learn to work together to solve high school mysteries.

Dustin Diamond will return in another high school sitcom, this time on the ABC television network. He is in pre-production of "At The Hip." He will appear with conjoined twins Abigail and Brittany Hensel, who will star as Tina and Gina Fowler, sisters that don't always get along, but who learn to work together to solve high school mysteries. Diamond will appear as Principal Wilford in the pilot.

* However, to date, there has been zero evidence or corroboration to verify the scant reports.

So either there has been a leak or it is just a rumour. To be honest when the Hensel family have declined so many offers from the media in the past I would be surprised if there is any truth to this.

[SueGee]

What a marvelous, wonderful, caring family. I saw their documentary film and was awefilled at how precious these girls were....may they always have their positive attitude and energy to live life to the fullest! God must have a wonderful plan for them -- if only to show us how life should be lived in the face of adversity, how to get along with others, and how to get our priorities in order. I wish them all the love and happiness life has to offer. I am so glad this film helped me recognize my own shortcomings and address them. God bless this family!

[Charlie]

The inside scoop from tinseltown: The sitcom rumors are true, but Dustin Diamond was pushed out of the project for wanting too much creative control. The series was under wraps for too long - top brass is now concerned that the girls are too old for the series. They have matured, and the issue of sexuality is hard to ignore. ''At The Hip'' may not make it to pilot. It's a shame.

[Friends of Precious People]

Is there a single credible, official source for this info though? It's interesting news certainly, but I don't wish to post unsubstantiated, unofficial news to the Friends of Abby Hensel & Brittany Hensel Forum.

[Rick]

They're a double wonderful!! Never seen nothing more amazing, marvellous... I'd say I've nearly fallen in love ;-) It's nice to pet one girl, but two the same time...
Abby and Britty, may you ever read this... I wish you all the happiness that life could give you!!

[Friends of Precious People]

I hope you DON'T mean what I think you mean!!!!!!!

[Rick]

Sure DONT!! I got struck by the joyful way they carry on their lives... That's admiration!!
No double meaning, at all!!!

[Friends of Precious People]

Part of what you wrote just sounds inappropiate to me:

"I'd say I've nearly fallen in love ;-) It's nice to pet one girl, but two the same time..."

I'm sorry if English isn't your first language and you didn't intend that.

[Friends of Precious People]

MEDIATOR NEEDED FOR HENSEL FAMILY. CAN ANYONE HELP?

Over the past few months I have been contacted by tv production companies based here in the UK who would like to ask Patty and Mike Hensel if they would be interested in assisting with the making of a new 1 hour documentary, which would first go out on one of the national tv channels here in the UK. I have been contacted by production companies who make programmes for the BBC, Channel Four and Channel Five.

I have also recently been contacted by bona-fide expectant parents of conjoined twins who would like to get in contact with the Hensel family.

I have directed all of these people to Conjoined Twins International (C.T.I.) who I know used to do the job of mediation with families of conjoined twins. However this group appears to be no longer active and I have heard from Mary Nolan and Melissa Buckles both parents of conjoined twins, that neither they or any other parents of conjoined twins they know have successfully been able to contact C.T.I. over the last few months. This leaves anyone who wishes to contact the Hensel family for legitimate reasons unable to do so.

Is it possible that someone who has contact with the Hensel family could ask Patty and Mike Hensel if they would mind them acting as a mediator? If you genuinely know the Hensel family and Patty and Mike Hensel would be happy for you to handle such enquiries, please could you contact Mary Nolan and Melissa Buckles via the new Families of Conjoined Twins Support Group at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Families_of_Conjoined_Twins/

Unless someone can mediate with the Hensel family then it is very difficult for those who need to, to get in contact with the family and for the Hensel family's privacy and security we discourage anyone from trying to seek out their home address and contacting them directly.

Chris - Owner Friends of Conjoined Twins and Friends of Abby & Brittany Forums.

[Rick]

No problem. I guess I got misunderstood, my fault. They're awesome, that's all.

[Paul]

"To be honest if Brittany & Abby were to go into acting, I'd be concerned that they would be exploited for their physical condition to get viewer ratings rather than for their individual talents as should be the case."

(tongue in cheek) Sure, because we know this would never happen to, say, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt or Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Seriously, the visual arts most always exploit for physical characteristics. Black people don't get picked as movie Klansmen, Fat people don't get picked as bikini models and thin folks don't get into the "before" pictures at Jennie Craig. People with facial blemishs find soap opera work difficult to obtain, but somehow don’t have trouble finding work as mob enforcers. Don’t even get me started on the requirements for your average oompa-loompa.

But should we do reverse discrimination? If Brad Pitt is a good actor, why should he suffer listening to people say he only got his parts for his abs? Give these girls a chance. They have a special physique that will help them get in the door, just like most other actors, but give them a chance to prove what they can do before saying, "They’re being exploited for their looks." The producers probably already know that I’ll watch the show once just to see the girls, but there’s no way I’ll see it again if it just plain sucks.

[Friends of Precious People]

I'm not saying that Abby and Brittany shouldn't go into acting careers! I would just like to see programme/film makers employing them because they are good actors and not because they know that half the nation will tune in because Brittany and Abby are special twins and people want to see them - if that's the case it may as well be a documentary. By all means if Brittany and Abby have decided that they want to be actors and maybe end up in Hollywood then I'm fully supportive of them! They have many talents and of course they should be encouraged to go far with them. At least if Abby and Brittany did go into full time acting they wouldn't have to worry about being financially secure - the alternative of course in most other careers is part time work for each of them which may limit the opportunities that they have.

[greg]

I think these girls are fascinating partly because they have achieved through the miracle of their birth what we all strive to attain by other means; the complete unity with another human being. This is the essence of love, isn't it? The mystery of merging with "the Other", becoming soul-mates, etc. is symbolised by their presence in this world characterised by increasing isolation and separation. They show it's possible to be that close... literally sharing the same skin and still not lose your individually.