Home » Abby and Brittany Hensel: Is Their Celebrity Life Really as Happy and Normal As They Portray?

Abby and Brittany Hensel: Is Their Celebrity Life Really as Happy and Normal As They Portray?

Posted: Monday, November 16, 2009

by Fran Larson
http://www.franniesquotes.com/

The newest rumor that Brittany is engaged makes for more pictures, more press and therefore their program on television is more successful.

Let me preface what I am going to talk about by saying. I think these beautiful girls are deserving of a normal life, but is television once again just depending on exploitation for ratings or do these girls really have a better life because of their celebrity via television?

I am confused. Last night on television, it was once again brought out that Brittany and Abbey hate having their pictures taken. It makes them very upset. They hate being videoed by people who don't ask permission first. Yes, people should ask permission, but what do the parents expect when they project the girls on television repeatedly? It seems to me like you can't have it both ways. Celebrity really is a double-edged sword.

Although the television program about their life in no way makes fun of them, I sense a thread of circus-like atmosphere because people everywhere are curiousincluding me. If you pay attention to all of those programs on the same network, they all have that "pay attention to me because I am so different" mentality. Am I the only one that sees this?

Are the parents really doing the television program for the betterment of the girls or is it once again a financial gain?

The parent's decision to not have them separated would not be my decision, mainly because of how people (television, media, etc) would exploit them.

Wikipedia tells us that upon their birth, their parents rejected the option to attempt surgical separation after hearing from doctors that it was not likely that both girls would survive the operation.

Most of Abigail and Brittany's shared organs are located at or below the level of the navel.

1 large intestine with one colon
2 left kidneys, 1 right kidney
1 bladder
1 set of reproductive organs
2 separate half-sacrums, which converge distally
1 slightly broad pelvis
2 legs
2 heads
2 completely separate spinal cords
2 vertebral columns with ribs bridging the two columns; their coccyx's merge.
2 arms (originally 3, but rudimentary central arm was surgically removed, leaving central shoulder blade in place)
1 broad ribcage, with surgery to correct scoliosis and expand the pleural cavities
2 breasts
2 highly fused sternums, traces of bridging ribs
4 lungs (medial lungs moderately fused, not involving Brittany's upper right lobe); three pleural cavities
1 diaphragm with well-coordinated involuntary breathing, slight central defect
2 hearts in a shared circulatory system (nutrition, respiration, medicine taken by either affects both)
2 stomachs
2 gallbladders
1 liver, enlarged and elongated right lobe
Y-shaped small intestine which experiences a slightly spastic double peristalsis at the juncture (from wikipedia)

As the girls grew and learned to walk and develop other skills, the parents confirmed their decision against separation, arguing that the quality of life for the surviving twin or twins living separately would be less than their quality of life as conjoined beings.

I don't know how the parents could think that the surviving twin or twins living separately would be less than their quality of life as conjoined beings. Technology has advanced quite a bit since their birth 18 years ago; leading me to believe it is not too late for a possible separation. Having said that, I am sure in their heart they are trying to make the right decision. This is strictly my opinion.

The latest news is that they are pursuing their degrees. In 2008, Abigail and Brittany graduated from high school and started Bethel University. In January unconfirmed reports said Brittany was engaged.

I wish these wonderful, bright teen girls a well and happy life

Francine Larson:

Co-Author of Character Keys to a Bright Future.

She is a freelance writer

Francine Larson has a new book that just came out, "The Lure of Annabelle Key Lighthouse," an exciting Christian Teen Novella. You may view it at: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/115229/

See more articles by Francine Larson at:http://www.examiner.com/modern-love-in-tampa-bay/francine-larson

She also writes for The Highlands at Scotland Yards. She writes poetry and short stories. She is a contributor for Yahoo (http://contributor.yahoo.com/user/685738/francine_larson.html)

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