Lori and George Schappell, the world's oldest living conjoined twins according to Guinness World Records, passed away this month at the age of 62. Their story, documented in numerous television specials and defying medical odds, serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of living life to the fullest, even in extraordinary circumstances. A Life Lived on Their Terms: Separate Passions, One Journey Born in 1961 in West Reading, Pennsylvania, Lori and George were conjoined at the skull, sharing a head but possessing distinct brains and personalities. George, who had spina bifida, relied on Lori for mobility and navigated their world with the help of an adaptive wheeled stool. Despite their physical connection, the twins strived for independence throughout their lives. Conjoined Twins Lori and George Schappell "It was very important to both of us to live as independently as possible," their obituary stated. This dedication to independence manifested in their varied passions and career paths. While Lori excelled as a "trophy-winning bowler," George pursued a career in country music. Their story transcended the limitations some might have expected. Lori, at one point, was even engaged to be married, highlighting their ability to forge individual connections while sharing a life. Overcoming Obstacles: Education, Careers, and Public Appearances Despite the challenges posed by their conjoined state, the Schappell twins graduated from high school and pursued further education. George, accompanying Lori during her college classes, exemplified their unwavering support for one another. Their journey wasn't limited to the classroom. Lori eventually left her hospital laundry job to support George's dream of becoming a country music singer. This selfless act showcased their commitment to individual aspirations within their shared existence. The twins didn't shy away from public life. They embraced opportunities to share their story, appearing in documentaries, talk shows, and even an episode of the medical drama "Nip/Tuck." Through these appearances, they not only educate the public about conjoined twins but also challenge societal perceptions of disability and the limitations it might impose. A Bond Beyond Separation: Choosing Unity Over Surgery While surgical separation was a theoretical possibility, the Schappells firmly rejected this option. They viewed their conjoined state not as a limitation, but as a unique bond they wouldn't sever. "You don't mess with what God made, even if it means you enjoy both children for a shorter time," Lori once told The Associated Press. This sentiment was echoed by George, who stated, "Why fix what is not broken?" Their unwavering commitment to one another and their acceptance of their unique physical reality serve as an inspiration for all who face adversity. A Legacy of Resilience: The Schappell Twins and Conjoined Twin Statistics The Schappell twins' passing leaves a void in the world of conjoined twins. While the exact successor for the title of "oldest living conjoined twins" remains uncertain, their story continues to resonate. Conjoined twins are a rare occurrence, happening in only about 1 in 50,000 to 60,000 births. Sadly, most are stillborn, and only a small percentage are joined at the head, like Lori and George. The Schappell twins defied the odds not only by surviving but by thriving. They graduated from high school, pursued individual interests, and built a life filled with travel, public appearances, and personal connections. Their story reminds us that human connection and a zest for life can overcome even the most extraordinary physical challenges.
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Ok so here's another blog detailing stuff I like. This one is about shows I like
My Favorite Shows: Blackstone (a extremely underrated Canadian series about the residents of a First Nations reserve), Glitch, Black Mirror and Oz (I can see where some people today can see some issues in regards to representation however I got sucked into the world and it's characters. Kareem and Tobias)
Other Shows I Really Like: Damages, 3%, The Wire and Big Love
Shows I Enjoyed and Or Liked: Sons Of Anarchy, Nip Tuck (it is quite dated though), Six Feet Under, Orphan Black, Skins, Misfits (although it has poor representation and treatment of the Black characters as well as LGBT characters oh and a Romani character pops up who is called the g slur and never corrects it), My Mad Fat Diary, Hell on Wheels (this show also has issues when it comes to representation, primarily with the Indigenous characters), Banshee (although questionable Indigenous representation and casting), Prison Break, Please Like Me, Cucumber, Banana, Outrageous Fortune, Redfern Now, The Gods of Wheat Street, Being Mary Jane, Luther, The Fall, Dark, Vis a Vis, Cable Girls and Snowfall
I have seen alot more shows then this though. If you asked me 5 years ago I would have said The Walking Dead, Falling Skies, The 100, Under The Dome and Z Nation
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And Here's What You Really Missed : Heather Morris Interview and Preggers Recap
Okay... so I'm very behind on all of these podcasts, I'll probably be doing these two at a time since it takes a while to listen and write up notes.
Also... you guys, I've been labeling the show wrong this whole time. It's -- And That's What You Really Missed. Ah well, it's fine, that way no one from the show can find it when it's googled.
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Heather Morris Interview -
Discussion about how she came to the show - worked for Beyonce, and Zach Woodlee (Glee's Choreographer) had her come on to help teach the Single Ladies dance. Never had an audition with RM because it was cancelled twice, and was more or less just incorporated into the show.
Discussion about her first day - and how she essentially pooped her pants on her way to the show, and threw her dirty panties outside her car window and kept going.
Mentions that Heather's inspiration for Brittany came from a character from Mean Girls.
Discussion about her eating disorder, and how Naya was the only person who reached out to her.
(Lots of discussion around Naya, and the gratefulness about how she was able to speak her mind.)
Discussion about her family life and how they shaped her and her work ethic. She works hard, but keeps her head low and tries to stay out of things (almost to a fault).
Discussion about how fame was really hard -- she had put in the work to be famous, but once there, wanted to go back to being private. (They discuss how the attention thrown on her was a lot like how it was with Chris -- and how Heather is a very private person who had a hard time with being a public figure.
Discussion about how hard the show was to do -- and how tiring. They recall a time during Rocky Horror where it was 1am, and Heather wasn't well -- and Kevin surmised that if Heather isn't well, than none of them were.
Discussion about mental health - and Heather going to therapy (I do appreciate the positivity surrounding the subject).
Discussion about being pregnant while on the show -- more or less, that it was crazy that she had to do it, and she also had to fight to get off the show for the end of her pregnancy.
Discussion on various reality shows they've all been on - The Masked Dancer (which Heather won), RuPaul's Drag Race (which Kevin and Jenna were one), and a mild shade at Dancing with the Stars - where Heather didn't get far, but also got a lot of flack about because she was a professional dancer.
Heather's favorite numbers: U Can't Touch This (it was fun!), River Deep Mountain High, Jump (though apparently Jump was the worst because it was so hot.
Least favorite: Hello Goodbye (Because you shouldn't touch classics) and Bad Romance (the costume was the worst.)
She talked about how working with Naya was amazing, and it was always a treat get to listen to hear her sing.
And... that's pretty much it. It was a lot of stream of conscious discussions. They didn't really dig in deep to any of the topics, but kind of let the conversation flow somewhat naturally.
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Preggers Recap -
The fact that I just listened to this podcast and don't have a lot of firm moments probably says something. It's a lot of gushing and a lot of just recapping the plot - and Kevin and Jenna are cute, but not much noteworthy.
They break the plot down into three parts -
Babygate - the part that's a majority of the episode, but they don't have a lot to say about it - other than they think Terri is a horror movie character (she is - now that I think about it). Also the line from Kendra about the baby being black is a nod to Jessilyn Gelsig's character from Niptuck.
Beyonce Gate - they discuss a bit about the Single Ladies dance, and Jenna talks a little about having to put that together. They mention Chris changing the costume to be more Kurt-like (which, hilariously, is a well known story around these parts). Also - the slap to Tina's butt was an improv.
They both have a lot of affection for the story line (me, too!) - even if it is campy. They really praise Mike O'Malley's Burt - who keeps it real and honest among a show full of crazy people.
They text Ryan to ask him if Kurt's coming out was based on his life. Ryan says no -- it's what he wish had happened. Which I think is fascinatingly insightful. Kevin and Jenna go into a discussion about how the show represents idyllic situations as a way to show positivity for the gay community. Jenna also likened it to wanting to see more positive adoption stories - since she is adopted, and things she sees in media are always negative.
Sue's story - They talk about Lea wanting to have a Celine Dion song, and getting one. Jenna was also asking for Celine Dion songs, but didn't really get to do one. (There was also a story about how Lea asked for a Celine song, and was given the wrong one -- I'm so curious as to what this was.) Also, Jenna shares a few stories that I think they talked about on their Showmance podcast -- the first being her dislike of the spider necklace because she doesn't like spiders and the second being Matt's advice on not doing theater acting for the camera.
They also discuss Tonight - and how it's going to be a running gag that Tina doesn't get songs. (Jenna jokes - with some truth behind it - that Tina's lack of things to do is what made her crack.)
Cringiest Moment: All of Sandy and Figgins commercial for the socks.
Worst dance move: none. Everyone was awesome.
Best Song: Single Ladies
Best Line: My body is like a rum chocolate souffle... ;)
Best performance by a prop: the spider necklace
Things that didn't age well: The quote about the baby being black.
Things that did age well: Burt coming home to watch deadliest catch.
Shit we found on TikTok: They talk about the recaps of their podcast on TikTok and do a couple of shoutouts. They also acknowledge the plot hole (?) about Karofsky being on the hockey team and football team. So - they have a voice message from Max Adler - who talks about coming in originally for a one time thing being a hockey player. And when they called him back - they had to make him a football player.
(Omg - so, not only does Kevin peruse TikTok all the time for Glee content, but he's asking people to send him stuff, too. I am /so/ glad I'm not on TikTok -- I just would never want anyone from the show to see my content. Eesh.)
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