One of America’s most famous Siamese got married in secret three years ago.
According to public records obtained by “Today,” 34-year-old Siamese Abby Hensel from Minnesota married Josh Bowling, a nurse and Army veteran, in 2021.
Abby and her sister, Brittany, are believed to be among the few Siamese in the story they survived and became famous with their eponymous show on TLC, which chronicled the major events of their lives, such as graduating from high school and trying to find a place in the job market.
Siamese are united at the base of their spine and from the waist down all their organs, including the bowel, bladder and reproductive organs, are shared.
Abby’s relationship with father-of-one Josh has been unknown until now, with the Siamese having lived out of the public eye for the past 10 years.
One of the Siamese women married
The TikTok account @abbyandbrittanyhensel recently posted a clip showing Abby’s wedding, and a Facebook account, titled Britt And Abby, also featured a photo of the happy couple.
@abbyandbrittanyhensel #marriage #love ♬ The Good Ones – Gabby Barrett
For the ceremony, which took place in 2021, the Siamese wore a sleeveless wedding dress with lace detailing, while the groom wore a gray suit.
The Siamese are, according to Today, elementary school teachers and live in Minnesota, where they were born and raised. They first became known in 1996, when they appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s show and on the cover of Life magazine.
They Exceeded All Predictions – Their Incredible Achievements
They then lived a quiet, normal life in Minnesota with their family, out of the limelight, until they agreed to appear in a documentary for TLC when they turned 16.
When the Siamese Hensels were born on March 7, 1990 in Minnesota, doctors warned their parents, Patti and Mike, that they were unlikely to make it through the night. But that prediction was to prove wrong.
They also surprised everyone with their amazing coordination when playing the piano, with Abigail taking over the right hand and Brittany the left hand. Growing up, they enjoyed sports such as bowling, volleyball, cycling, softball and swimming.
At the age of 16 they passed their driving test, with their mother admitting at the time that this could be a problem. “I don’t know what would happen if they were stopped for speeding. Would they both get a call or just Abby because her foot was on the gas?”
However, their parents never once considered separating the Siamese because of the risk of both dying or being left with severe disabilities that would compromise their quality of life.
Two completely different people, united in one body
As they grew up, like many Siamese, they had very different personalities and preferences.
Abby, the feisty and stubborn one, wanted orange juice for breakfast, while Brittany, the prankster of the family, only drank milk.
Speaking previously, Brittany said: “Trust me, we’re completely different people.”
Her mother, Patti, didn’t know she was carrying a Siamese until the time of their birth. “The pediatrician said the babies were together and had two heads,” he said in 2006. “He was blunt, but absolutely accurate. From the first moment we saw them, we thought they were gorgeous,” he added.
The Siamese, in infancy, underwent surgery to remove a third, undeveloped arm from their chest, and at age 12 they entered the operating room again to correct scoliosis and widen their chest cavity to prevent future breathing difficulties.