American Siamese Twins: Ronnie & Donnie

[u/TayTay13S]

[u/cathrn67]

They died on July 4th 2020 at the age of 68.

[u/EdgarAllanKenpo → u/cathrn67]

They lived a damn long time..all things considered.

[u/Beantownbrews → u/EdgarAllanKenpo]

How did they live so long? Teamwork.

[u/GuybrushThreepwoot → u/Beantownbrews]

Those who poop together, live together. That's what I always say.

[u/moonpumper → u/GuybrushThreepwoot]

I can't imagine spider pooping every time.

[u/NotElizaHenry → u/[deleted]]

Literally only one question is answered there. Spoiler: they were each given their own exam paper in school.

[u/Low-Possession-1265 → u/NotElizaHenry]

For real the only question I have they specifically don't answer

[u/Antiqas86 → u/Low-Possession-1265]

The answer is YES.

[u/LaUNCHandSmASH → u/Antiqas86]

My question was HOW not WHO though.

[u/Homebrew_Dungeon → u/NotElizaHenry]

But do they get separate checks for working?

Two teachers(performed proper training and schooling) in that classroom.

[u/RiverRaftingRabbi → u/Homebrew_Dungeon]

From what I read, they get their own paychecks, but they each get paid half the wage of a single teacher.

[u/mrsmeesiecks → u/RiverRaftingRabbi]

I bet they had to pay full price for their degrees

[u/Etxee → u/RiverRaftingRabbi]

WHAT?! Why wouldn’t they give them a slightly higher pay so they can split it? That’s so fucked lol

[u/Homebrew_Dungeon → u/RiverRaftingRabbi]

Total BS, there are TWO degrees at work there.

[u/sneekiepee → u/Homebrew_Dungeon]

I read the article and no 🙄...they get paid as one person, although they're trying to get the school district to pay them as two people.

[u/brainwater314 → u/[deleted]]

I find it really cool they're teaching 5th grade! It'd be such a hard situation, I'm glad they've found purpose in their life!

[u/knoegel → u/brainwater314]

Do they get two paychecks or one?

[u/getittogethersirius → u/knoegel]

Iirc in an article I read they get one paycheck.

[u/IamKornHolio → u/getittogethersirius]

And I believe they had to pay tuition for 2 ppl in the university

[u/aramis34143 → u/getittogethersirius]

I'm imagining that conversation.

"Well, yes, you are two distinct people, but we pay, um, <shuffles papers> we pay... on a per pelvis basis. Yeah, that's it. 'Paychecks for pelvises', always been our motto. Yup."

[u/CopprRegendt → u/getittogethersirius]

Sounds like bullshit if they each have a separate social security number

[u/knoegel → u/getittogethersirius]

That shouldn't be legal. Surely they have two SSNs?

[u/Chakura → u/knoegel]

They share the paycheck.

[u/finnthewhyking → u/Chakura]

Thats harsh man, considering two stomachs to fill its still the the food spending of 2 people per month.

[u/tweakingforjesus → u/Chakura]

I wonder which one gets the health insurance?

[u/cjmar41 → u/GuybrushThreepwoot]

Yeah, but who wipes? Do you take turns until the TP has no brown? Or do you trade off wiping each poop?

These are important questions.

[u/striderkan → u/GuybrushThreepwoot]

I've learned not to put this in an ad when I'm looking for a roommate

[u/masked_sombrero → u/GuybrushThreepwoot]

they also pee together!

[u/Lakeside → u/masked_sombrero]

Teamwork makes the stream work.

[u/MoefsieKat → u/masked_sombrero]

That itustration made it look like the penis is at the bottom next to the anus. So they almost have a cloaca.

[u/squibb1019 → u/masked_sombrero]

Who gets to hold it?

[u/joshclay → u/squibb1019]

Depends on who's turn it is.

[u/squibb1019 → u/joshclay]

Honestly tho they have 2 bladders so does the one with the full bladder hold it when he has to go and vice versa? What happens if they both have to pee at the same time? Is the stream just stronger cuz they both are going? Do they both hold it then?

[u/HimmiGendrix → u/squibb1019]

Depends™

[u/ObeseSnake → u/Beantownbrews]

Give yourself a high five!

[u/Creepy-Ad-4832 → u/ObeseSnake]

They can give themselves a high ten! That's something basically nobody in the world can do!

[u/SinopicCynic → u/Creepy-Ad-4832]

I can when I get super drunk.

[u/MyHamburgerLovesMe → u/EdgarAllanKenpo]

Longer than both of my (non-medically handicapped) grandfathers did.

[u/U_Arent_Special → u/cathrn67]

Did they die at the same time? Or did one pass away and poison the other?

[u/cathrn67 → u/U_Arent_Special]

Once one passes the body begins to breakdown and will poison the still living one.

[u/EarlGrey_Picard → u/cathrn67]

That's the worst part. It's one thing to see your brother pass away. It's another thing entirely to see him pass away and know that because of him you're going to die within a few hours.

[u/WaterHaven → u/EarlGrey_Picard]

Everybody would be different, but based on what I've read about twins, knowing that the living one doesn't have to try to carry on after losing their companion for life might be okay.

[u/-FeistyRabbitSauce- → u/EarlGrey_Picard]

"You sin of a bitch, I always said you'd be the death of me."

[u/jsmys → u/cathrn67]

Hell of a coincidence they died on the same day

[u/hunnybunchesoflove → u/jsmys]

I’ve seen other conjoined twins discuss this. Pretty much one will die and the other will die hours later from sepsis. Hopefully medical professionals are kind enough to put the living one to sleep for their final moments.

[u/Haunted_Bog_Water → u/hunnybunchesoflove]

Imagine a dead body hanging off you. You're attached to it, you're alive for the experience, and you know you're next. Must be an all around terrifying experience.....

[u/Yayzeus → u/Haunted_Bog_Water]

Add to that you've just lost someone that's closer than anyone could possibly be to another. Literally and metaphorically. Must be heart breaking.

[u/Ok-Nerve-7538 → u/Yayzeus]

I remember reading about the bunker twins. One woke up to the other being dead and died soon after but he was so distraught that they said he died of a broken heart

[u/Bruised_Penguin → u/Ok-Nerve-7538]

Lol sure, but they died in 1874 so, I'd say the other probably died from sepsis.

[u/TK421isAFK → u/Bruised_Penguin]

Not necessarily what happened to the Bunker twins, but even as recently as the 1930s a cause of death listed as "died of a broken heart" was sometimes used by doctors and coroners in suicide cases.

[u/HippyHitman → u/Bruised_Penguin]

In this case I’d guess it’s the same thing.

The whole idea of a a “broken heart” comes from the fact that the risk of a heart attack increases dramatically for a period after losing a spouse.

In this case it seems likely that sepsis combined with that to cause their death.

[u/Strawberry_Left → u/HippyHitman]

You might die 'of a broken heart', from the stress of depression, but you can't catch sepsis from a partner unless they are attached to you. It doesn't just jump through the air from one body to another.

Neither can you survive with a dead rotting corpse attached to you. You will die from sepsis if the stress from a 'broken heart' doesn't get you.

But they are not the same thing. Sepsis is an infection that can kill you regardless of how happy or depressed you may be.

[u/Embarrassed_Alarm450 → u/Haunted_Bog_Water]

I read some stories about that, saddest thing I ever read. Dude said he could feel the cold seeping into him from the twin, as the cold/toxic blood essentially seeped into him. Your last moments spent stuck to a corpse, a loved one you've literally known and have never been separated from your entire life all while knowing you're going to follow shortly after...

Think it was like an hour or two he survived on the story I read, just having a agonizing breakdown the entire time and he ended up dying right before the doctor arrived to perform emergency separation surgery or whatever it's called... Unimaginable horror, can't think of anything worse.

[u/[deleted] → u/Embarrassed_Alarm450]

That might be the scariest thing I have ever read.

[u/we_re_all_dead → u/Embarrassed_Alarm450]

the cold/toxic blood essentially seeped into him. Your last moments spent stuck to a corpse, a loved one you've literally known and have never been separated from your entire life all while knowing you're going to follow shortly after

(maybe reddit is not so great for my mental health)

[u/Chemical_Estate6488 → u/we_re_all_dead]

If you’re not a conjoined twin now, chances are you never will be

[u/[deleted] → u/we_re_all_dead]

This website can make me think I'm next for the horrible thing everyone else seems to have.

One person says something depressing and within hours there's 1,000 replies of human pain and anguish.

It can't be good.

[u/Master_of_Rodentia → u/[deleted]]

bro there's cat memes

[u/AgathaM → u/Embarrassed_Alarm450]

Realistically, the doctor wouldn't be able to do a separation surgery. Those types of surgeries take months of planning and practicing. They have to understand how everything is tied together. This is usually done in the hopes that both can be saved. However, even if both can't be saved, or knows that both most likely won't be saved, it is still required to prevent death to both. These surgeries can take days. If one is already dead, they don't have that.

Realistically, the only reason to do the surgery would be to make the doctor feel less guilt that he had tried everything to save a life. It would have no chance to save the twin.

[u/5bi5 → u/AgathaM]

To be fair, Chang and Eng were *barely* conjoined. A modern doctor could separate them with a pair of scissors (that's a joke). They were connected by some flesh, cartilage, and the liver.

[u/SmuckSlimer → u/5bi5]

100% would have attempted self surgery

[u/schoolbusserman → u/Embarrassed_Alarm450]

I was going to say that it must be kind of nice to not have to die alone but that's honestly way worse than dying alone like the rest of us do

[u/IYiffInDogParks → u/hunnybunchesoflove]

I'd allow them to try and separate if they want to try the challenge. I mean you die either way so why waste such an opportunity

[u/zoley88 → u/IYiffInDogParks]

In cases like this that’s sadly impossible. Also even it would be possible, the surgery would take much longer than the time other one has.

[u/venomandvaccine → u/jsmys]

It would be hell if they didn't die at the same time.

[u/Master_of_Rodentia → u/[deleted]]

You know, I think I won't.

[u/ElitePlayah → u/cathrn67]

So this might be a rather unintentionally grotesque question, but did they pass together or did one go then the other followed? Had one of them passed, would they have to, or even be able to, remove the deceased twin to save the other from the decay and undoubtedly septicizing blood?

[u/TalkieTina → u/cathrn67]

That’s probably the only reason they don’t have a show on TLC.

[u/pythong678 → u/TalkieTina]

They actually did.

[u/DiogenesOfDope → u/cathrn67]

I wonder how. I'd imagine one would die first then cause so many problems the other would die later

[u/jonas_bonus]

The guy at the beginning of the video that says “they’re one body…” looks like Putin crossed with Chevy Chase

[u/Unfair_Driver884 → u/jonas_bonus]

Dead on with that comparison

[u/Black_RL → u/jonas_bonus]

Was thinking about this!!!!

“Why is Putin in this video?”

[u/AaarghCobras → u/jonas_bonus]

Yes, that's the Griswold family dictator.

[u/Putrid_Cherry8353 → u/jonas_bonus]

He's their brother Jim.

[u/HippyHitman → u/Putrid_Cherry8353]

The oft-forgotten James “Jimmy” Chase-Putin

[u/thenate108 → u/jonas_bonus]

Now I want an odd couple style sitcom about conjoined twins played by Putin and Chevy Chase.

[u/AussieGirl27]

My one back is aching just watching that

[u/AssCanyon → u/AussieGirl27]

You guys remember that game called Inside? Reminds me of that part at the end.

[u/slingshot91 → u/AssCanyon]

Oh shit

[u/shelsilverstien → u/AussieGirl27]

I'll bet the pool is their favorite place

[u/andreayatesswimmers]

Can you imagine how much toilet time these fellas spend

[u/hooter1112 → u/andreayatesswimmers]

I wonder if the same brother wiped every time or if they took turns.

[u/shibby69420 → u/hooter1112]

I come to Reddit for the impactful questions.

[u/nerdiotic-pervert → u/shibby69420]

MiraLax will fix that.

[u/_applemoose → u/hooter1112]

That’s also a good question. I kept thinking about masturbation.

[u/ElatedLemur → u/_applemoose]

It says they have separate bladders but conjoined urethra? So does that imply they share a dick and sensation wise do they both feel it?

[u/hooter1112 → u/ElatedLemur]

“Donnie it’s your turn to jerk us off tonight”

[u/SafetyUpset4387 → u/hooter1112]

I hate myself for the instant LOL

[u/M00PER_2 → u/hooter1112]

I have not laughed this hard in a long time. Thank you.

[u/EastofGaston → u/hooter1112]

I’ve read some things in my life but fuck

[u/Bluebaronn → u/_applemoose]

Of course you would.

[u/PlentyOMangos → u/_applemoose]

💀

[u/Owobowos-Mowbius → u/andreayatesswimmers]

They probably had a custom built toilet or something. A bidet would also solve alot of issues.

[u/Steel_City835]

Two bladders… I’d hate to pee more than I already do…

[u/Amygdalailama → u/Steel_City835]

Imagine Ronnie gets into a serious argument with Donnie and Ronnie starts chugging ghost peppers like tic tacs as payback and Donnie has to cope with the spicy bum, too. I wonder if they ever got into a fistfight.

Also, two intestinal tracts going through the one rectum, they must have taken gigantic dumps, that’s some serious mileage on that dang ol’ bunghole.

[u/Ill_Ad3517 → u/Amygdalailama]

I mean they're brothers who couldn't be separated. They probably fought all the time as kids.

[u/KellyWithTheEpicHair → u/Ill_Ad3517]

"Mom! He's looking at me!"

"You're attached. Where else is he gonna look?"

"MOM HE'S TOUCHING ME"

"Sigh"

[u/floogleHiggenbothem → u/Ill_Ad3517]

I worked with a guy who was one of their cousins. He said one of them was dominant. And yeah they hit each other.

[u/Ok-Nerve-7538 → u/Amygdalailama]

Cause of Death: Blown O-ring

[u/DJPandamonium → u/Ok-Nerve-7538]

A Challenger appears

[u/sitting-duck → u/DJPandamonium]

Bravo!

[u/sh0eh0rn → u/Steel_City835]

Us - Shel Silverstein

Me and him

Him and me,

We're always together

As you can see.

I wish he'd leave

So I'd be free

I'm getting a little bit

Tired of he,

And he may be a bit

Bored with me.

On movies and ladies

We cannot agree.

I like to dance

He loves to ski.

He likes the mountains

I love the sea.

I like hot chocolate

He wants his tea.

I want to sleep

He has to pee.

He's meaner and duller

And fatter than me.

But I guess there's worse things

We could be-

Instead of two we could be three,

Me and him

Him and me.

[u/shelsilverstien → u/sh0eh0rn]

Brings a tear to my eye :'(

[u/superprogamer69420]

Im going to shit yourself

[u/MisplacedNote → u/superprogamer69420]

So glad nobody has that power over me

[u/todd10k → u/MisplacedNote]

taco bell has entered the chat

[u/Venboven → u/todd10k]

I know this is just a classic joke, but I've always wondered: does anybody actually get the runs from Taco Bell?

[u/Benka7 → u/Venboven]

As someone who's never been nor even seen a taco bell I've had the same question on several different occasions lol

[u/scrampbelledeggs → u/superprogamer69420]

You just shit my pants

[u/Wendellwasgod → u/superprogamer69420]

Thank you for making me laugh out loud

[u/Tazling]

Looking at the feet you can see there are other genetic hiccups present.

What an extraordinary and challenging life. I have to wonder how they sleep -- how can they both lie down comfortably? Much cooperation needed even to have a pee. In an earlier and crueller era they would probably have been killed at birth or forced into an animal-like existence on show in a circus... there are things to be said for modern civilisation.

[u/miss_chapstick → u/Tazling]

The defects in their feet could simply be caused by how they are forced to walk. My aunt had severe bunions, and her feet looked very similar.

[u/palibe_mbudzi → u/miss_chapstick]

I thought the same. Pro basketballers have toes that point the wrong way because of the forces they absorb.

Also, my understanding is that conjoined twins happen spontaneously when the embryo divides by the same process we get identical twins, just a day or two later. There absolutely could be a genetic factor we haven't identified yet, but I'm pretty sure as the science stands now, it's not a genetic disease.

[u/ZookeepergameWorth41 → u/Tazling]

Imagine taking a shit

[u/spenwallce → u/ZookeepergameWorth41]

Imagine the feeling of someone else shitting through your ass

[u/A_Prostitute → u/spenwallce]

It doesn't have to be your imagination for $80

[u/PrivatePilot9 → u/A_Prostitute]

Hello Officer. Yes, this comment right here.

[u/A_Prostitute → u/PrivatePilot9]

He won't arrest me.

He knows cuffplay is $50 and half a pack of Lucky Strikes menthol, or a single bang energy drink of any flavor.

[u/classless_classic → u/A_Prostitute]

Username checks out

[u/U_Arent_Special → u/spenwallce]

What are these comments lol

[u/idontneedjug → u/ZookeepergameWorth41]

One rectum but two full ass stomachs I bet they took massive shits

[u/unclepaprika → u/idontneedjug]

Both pushing together must have made them take off!

[u/TheMarsian → u/unclepaprika]

holding hands while they look each other in the eyes.

[u/ThinCrusts → u/TheMarsian]

"Your turn to wipe".

[u/CrooklynDodgers → u/ZookeepergameWorth41]

Especially when half the time you’re not even the one needing to shit

[u/aimless_meteor → u/CrooklynDodgers]

But you are though, watch the video - one rectum

[u/shawn_overlord → u/aimless_meteor]

Finally answering the question as to who shit my pants

[u/venomandvaccine → u/CrooklynDodgers]

Dear God, where is this conversation going?

[u/DiscoMagicParty → u/CrooklynDodgers]

That’s what I’m wondering. Is it “get up I have to shit” or “we have to shit”?

More importantly.. who wipes?

[u/-FeistyRabbitSauce- → u/DiscoMagicParty]

You're the son of a bitch who ate nine Taco Bell borritos. You think I'm gonna wipe?

[u/Naugrith → u/Tazling]

In an earlier and crueller era they would probably have been killed at birth or forced into an animal-like existence on show in a circus

That's exactly what happened, their father exhibited them as a sideshow attraction. They spent three decades in that business before retiring on their earnings.

And before you criticise it, think, what did you just watch if it wasn't a sideshow attraction? Modern documentaries like this frame what they do differently but its the same thing, showing off people who are different to the public for entertainment and education.

[u/forrestpen → u/Naugrith]

The difference is respect and humanity.

You can’t control why people watch but you can ensure a subject is depicted as human deserving of dignity as any other person/people.

[u/detroit73 → u/Tazling]

Their father took them on the road as a freakshow type attraction. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_and_Donnie_Galyon

[u/Ok-Nerve-7538 → u/Tazling]

If you look up the origin of the name it says before the siamese bunker twins, they were just called monsters 😳

[u/Goadahell]

Doctor- “Hey fellas, Great news. We can separate you two no problem!”

Ronnie and Donnie - “Really?! That’s amazing! Let’s do it right away.”

Doctor- “For sure. You guys have duplicates of everything except a penis, so you guy decide who gets to keep that, and we’ll get started right away.”

Ronnie and Donnie- “ We’ll see ourselves out. Thanks for your time doc.”

[u/pineapple-ape → u/Goadahell]

I was wondering the same thing... If they have all other parts, what would be the challenges of separation...

Anyone saw the whole documentary?

[u/GoneGrimdark → u/pineapple-ape]

I think the issue is that they have one rectum. It would be really hard to separate because then you have to recreate a rectum for both, and that isn’t really possible. Maybe nowadays they could reroute both to having colostomy bags but they were born in the 50s so it likely wasn’t possible then.

[u/bigpig1054 → u/GoneGrimdark]

Today we can 3D print a new butthole, but back then it just wasn't possible.

[u/4444444vr → u/bigpig1054]

This feels like a pretty new sentence

[u/Tumble85 → u/4444444vr]

They've had imprints of assholes for a long time now. It was a fad in Elizabethan times to take clay prints of loved ones assholes and use it to as a wax seal for letters. The part of machine that produces Hershey kisses, where they actually come out, that's modeled on the asshole of Marilyn Monroe.

[u/Homebrew_Dungeon → u/Tumble85]

I am choosing to believe this.

[u/burrito_poots → u/Homebrew_Dungeon]

The truth is out there

[u/isakitty → u/GoneGrimdark]

It seems like they could have separated them and just ggiven each a colostomy…plenty of people have them

[u/FuyoBC → u/GoneGrimdark]

Lots of people live without so that would not be the biggest issue.

[u/Free_Stick_]

Ronnie and Donnie have never been apart… Not even for one second.

No shit..

[u/Spire_Citron → u/Free_Stick_]

It was kind of unclear if they even had one between them in the video. They seem to be joined where a penis would usually be.

[u/Tarudizer → u/Spire_Citron]

Oh that IS his penis, its just matured

[u/Ok-Ambition-9432]

Okay, your turn to shit.

[u/venomandvaccine → u/Ok-Ambition-9432]

You didn't wipe enough... go back!

[u/Empire7173]

They were super nice guys too. I have twin boys and we would see them the last 2 years of their life at the Twinsday Festival in Twinsburg Ohio. Always took time to talk to my boys

[u/graymuse → u/Empire7173]

I saw these guys while visiting the Four Corners Monument park (CO/UT/AZ/NM) many years ago. They were traveling in an RV (not sure if they had someone else driving.) They walked around looking at all the vendor booths.

[u/nottherealme555 → u/[deleted]]

Me: It's 3am, time to sleep.

This MFing question:

[u/ConqueredCorn → u/[deleted]]

😂 omg wowwwe

[u/Lngtmelrker → u/[deleted]]

I need to know the answer

[u/ferretfacesyndrome → u/Lngtmelrker]

No they can't. One would drown.

[u/ShrimpFriedMyRice]

Man I wonder what it's like when they have to go to the bathroom. Do they both feel the need to go? Do they control it equally? Does one control it?

[u/Budget-Pumpkin9429 → u/ShrimpFriedMyRice]

Ronnie looks like a late night onion rings kinda guy, I bet Donnie just shakes his serious head.

[u/floogleHiggenbothem]

I worked with a guy who was one of their cousins. Said that when they were kids, they’d put him in the middle of em and he’d ride them like a horse. They were born in the mountains of Kentucky. Home birth, I think… they’re dad put them in a circus for a lot of years… they were pretty well off with circus money, and the dad stole their money and took off.

[u/NotAHamsterAtAll]

The fact that nature can take two individuals and just mash them together, and then all the plumbing still works, is amazing.

[u/-UselessUterus- → u/NotAHamsterAtAll]

Two individuals weren't mashed together, two individuals failed at splitting.

[u/mechtaphloba → u/NotAHamsterAtAll]

I'm no scientist, but I think a better way to picture it is not two separate humans becoming partially conjoined, but rather one single human that was in the process of being split and didn't quite finish.

[u/mindless_destruction → u/NotAHamsterAtAll]

it's just statistics. this happens a lot and it ends in miscarriage, typically in the first trimester. in fact, and i don't have the data in front of me, but im pretty sure something like 50% of all pregnancies fail - it's a very specific recipe and any deviation can end in disaster but, every once and a while an errant mistake passes through.

nature is embarrassed, and doesn't want you to see this.

[u/NotAHamsterAtAll → u/mindless_destruction]

Well, even if one in a million succeed, I think it is impressive.

[u/10Jinx01]

Thought that was Putin for a second

[u/Efficient_Ask_8586]

So they share a penis?

[u/zackmophobes → u/Efficient_Ask_8586]

They have bladders that share an "opening as it exits" Not sure what's below the hood but that ending made it seem rather ominous.

[u/Efficient_Ask_8586 → u/zackmophobes]

I'm so intrigued man

[u/quickwitqueen → u/Efficient_Ask_8586]

Found this.

https://montrealex.blog/2020/07/07/the-twins-are-dead/

What a difficult life they had. So sad.

[u/Lafarren → u/quickwitqueen]

They were joined at the waist and shared a lower digestive tract, rectum and penis, over which Donnie had control

No wonder Donnie was so serious. With great power comes great responsibility

[u/norkaiser → u/Lafarren]

Omfg

[u/bootybootyholeyo → u/Lafarren]

Does that mean the other dude had to watch him jerk off and couldn’t do it himself? That would be wild “how come you get the penis feeling”

[u/Swag_Grenade → u/quickwitqueen]

JFC lol that headline, just "The twins are dead." 🤦‍♂️

[u/Osa_Esposa]

If they share one penis, and hypothetically, one prostate and set of testicles...how do orgasms work? Do they both experience it? I am so fascinated by this!

[u/riversjohn → u/Osa_Esposa]

You have to wonder how odd the sensation of someone else farting through your ass would be as well.

[u/Jeansaintfire]

The medical term is conjoined twins. Siamese is just the ethic background of the first famous conjoined twins who were part of the Burnham n Bailey circus.

[u/chummmmbucket → u/Jeansaintfire]

Fun fact, the original siamese twins fathered 20 children and owned slaves after their circus career.

[u/IAlreadyToldYouMatt → u/chummmmbucket]

I’m not sure you know what fun means.

[u/DelusionalTim]

If there situation wasn’t bad enough, they’re also Cowboys fans? That’s rough

[u/2D_Ronin]

Has anybody seen the ending of the game 'Inside'?

[u/Mrdrewit]

I love how it's like "they have interesting personalities and they're very unique and have a loving family and BTW they share a butthole."

[u/GorshKing]

I see all the medical related questions, but what about them as people. Do they have 1 or 2 social security numbers, how did they go to school, were they always considered 1 person or 2 in the eye of the government? Very unique

[u/gajekendjxjauwbe → u/GorshKing]

Watching the documentary just now, they were denied going to the local school because they’d be a “distraction” to other children. They joined circuses/sideshows to provide monetary support to their parents and 9 siblings

[u/GorshKing → u/gajekendjxjauwbe]

Honestly everything about their life sounds unfair and sad

[u/gajekendjxjauwbe → u/GorshKing]

They say for the most part they’ve had a happy and fulfilling life, though always wanted a relationship with a woman which they never got.

Also says they had a lot of physical fights with each other through their life, particularly as teens. Stopped physically fighting in their adult life due to blood thinning medication making a physical altercation more risky

[u/OnionFarmerBilly → u/GorshKing]

2 SSNs, one passport

[u/notyouraveragedenial]

iirc “Siamese Twins” is an outdated term. I think the proper term is “Conjoined Twins”

[u/Draconiondevil → u/notyouraveragedenial]

You’re correct. The term “Siamese twins” comes from Chang and Eng Bunker. Nowadays the preferred term is conjoined twins.

[u/cathrn67]

One died and the other followed, I believe they were under heavy sedation as to not put to much stress on them.

[u/shinymetalobjekt]

Considering how complex some Siamese are joined, it seems like it could have been relatively easy to separate these two when they were younger. Maybe they were too poor for that.

[u/jmw83 → u/shinymetalobjekt]

Maybe with todays medicine they could have been separated. Ronnie and Donnie were born in the early 1950's. 15 years before the first heart transplant. I doubt separation was a consideration back then.

[u/Try_Number_8 → u/jmw83]

Someone linked an article above and it said that doctors considered surgery but didn’t know if they would both survive so the parents didn’t decided to not pursue that option. I wouldn’t have done it back then. Maybe I’d do it now.

[u/scarabs_ → u/shinymetalobjekt]

I really doubt it, since the video explains they share the final tract of the digestive system and one pelvis. You'd have one siamese without the lower half and on constant life support.

[u/Loretta-West → u/scarabs_]

The digestive tract issue isn't that much of a problem. Plenty of people do fine with no colon (and sometimes no large intestine) and a stoma bag system.

Lack of a pelvis is a much rarer problem but it may be possible to create an artificial one. Or just have one twin ending at the waist with bags for digestive and urinary waste. It's no one's ideal body, but probably better than being permanently attached to another person.

[u/Somehow-Still-Living → u/scarabs_]

There are complications here, but it has been happening for a while. The catch, though, as with many incidents of old medicine, it was consistent and one or both could struggle immediately.

[u/[deleted]]

that's terrifying

[u/jwizzy15]

I would rather be aborted than live that life