A tragic story of conjoined twins who were forced to live with the dead body of one of the sisters attached to them for days has resurfaced.
Daisy and Violet Hilton, born conjoined at the hip in 1908, were sold by their mother to a freak show at a very young age. The twins were paraded on tours since they were toddlers, under the care of a woman named Mary Hilton.
After Mary’s passing, the twins were left in her will to her daughter Edith as if they were property. Eventually, the twins managed to break free from their contract and became successful musical performers. However, they were abandoned by their manager in 1961 and were left without any money.
Following their final public appearance, the twins found work at a local shop where they stayed for seven years. Despite attempts at normalcy, Violet’s engagement to Maurice Lambert was denied due to their conjoined state, and Daisy’s marriage to Harold Estep was soon annulled.
Tragically, both sisters caught the flu and passed away around New Year’s in 1969. Daisy succumbed to the illness first, leaving Violet attached to her corpse for several days. Violet stayed alive a few days longer, attached to her sister’s body, before she too fell fatally ill and died.
In modern times, conjoined twins can be separated in cases where one becomes terminally ill and the surviving twin agrees to the surgery. Conjoined twins are born physically attached due to an egg splitting into two embryos but not fully separating. About one in 50,000 to 60,000 births result in conjoined twins, with many pregnancies ending in miscarriage or stillbirth.
The world’s oldest conjoined twins, Lori and George Schappell, who shared organs including parts of the brain, passed away last week at the age of 62. Despite their connection, they led independent lives and had careers in music and other fields.
The reality of being a conjoined twin was further revealed by Abby and Brittany Hensel, who are joined at the torso and control different parts of their body. The twins shared their experiences about marriage and daily life as conjoined siblings, shedding light on the unique challenges they face. Similarly, Carmen and Lupita Andrade, who each control an arm but share organs below the waist, shared insights into their lives as conjoined twins living in Connecticut.
