For most people, finding out who they really are is a personal journey. But for conjoined twins Lori and George Schappell, life was very different as George had kept a secret for years.
The siblings from Pennsylvania, USA, were born joined at the head and shared part of their brain and blood vessels. Doctors once thought they would not live past 30 — but they proved everyone wrong and lived full lives together.
Even though they were always together, they still tried to live as independently as possible.
Lori once explained, “Just because we cannot get up and walk away from each other, doesn’t mean we cannot have solitude from other people or ourselves.”
Lori always wanted a normal life, including romance. And even though her brother was always there, she refused to give up on love.
She said: “When I went on dates, George would bring along books to read and, as we don’t face each other, he could ignore any kissing. I don’t see why being a conjoined twin should stop me having a love life and feeling like a woman.”
Conjoined twin kept huge secret from sister for decades
George supported her completely and tried to give her privacy when she needed it. He explained, They can do whatever they do, and I’ll act like I’m not even there. I would block out.”
But George had his own struggle — one he kept hidden for a long time. The twins were born as Lori and Dori, but for years, George felt that something was wrong. He later revealed:
“I have known from a very young age that I should have been a boy. I loved playing with trains and hated girly outfits,” he told The Sun in 2011. “I kept my desire to change sex hidden – even from Lori – for many years.”
Keeping the truth inside was very hard for him.
“It was so tough, but I was getting older and I simply didn’t want to live a lie,” he said.
When George finally told Lori the truth in 2007, it was a big moment for both of them. Lori said she was shocked at first, but she stood by her sibling.
Passed away in 2024
“Obviously, it was a shock when Dori changed to George, but I am so proud of him. It was a huge decision but we have overcome so much in our lives and together we are such a strong team. Nothing can break that,” Lori said.
Sadly, on April 7, 2024, George and Lori died at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The cause of death was not disclosed.
The twins went through more challenges than most people could ever imagine.
Still, they stayed strong together their whole lives. Their story shows that honesty, love, and support can survive even the hardest situations.
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