The world mourns the loss of the oldest known conjoined twins, Lori and George Schappell, who both passed away at the age of 62 in their Pennsylvania hometown.
Born on September 18, 1961, in Reading, Pennsylvania, Lori and George shared a rare connection, being conjoined at the skull while having separate bodies. They were linked by 30% of their brains and essential blood vessels.
Their incredible life journey came to a close on April 7 at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, as noted in their obituary. The specific cause of their passing has not been revealed.
George, who lived with spina bifida, used a mobility device for assistance, while Lori facilitated their movements by pushing and guiding his rolling stool. Their form of conjoined twins is exceptionally rare, affecting only about 2% to 6% of cases of congenital twins, according to NBC Today.
In a landmark moment for their lives, George transitioned in 2007, making them the first same-sex conjoined twins to identify as different genders, as recognized by Guinness World Records. During their trip to London in 2011 to celebrate their 50th birthday, George shared insights about his journey with The Sun, stating: “I knew from a very young age that I was supposed to be a boy”.
Both Lori and George completed their education at the Hiram G. Andrews Center and later worked at Reading Hospital. Despite their physical connection, they each pursued their own passions and hobbies. George followed his love for music as a country singer, captivating audiences globally, while Lori thrived as an accomplished bowler.
Remarkably, the Schappells enjoyed an independent lifestyle since turning 24. Initially, they lived in a care facility, then transitioned to a two-bedroom apartment where they each had their own space. They highlighted the significance of privacy, emphasizing that even with their physical bond, they found ways to enjoy solitude when needed
“Would we ever separate? Absolutely not”, George stated in a 1997 documentary: “My theory is, why fix what isn’t broken?”
Lori echoed this sentiment in a 2002 interview with the Los Angeles Times, saying: “I don’t believe in separation”. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Lori and George during this challenging time.
My Husband Invited His Girl Best Friend to a Family BBQ Unaware It Would Be the Last Straw for Me
My husband, Jack’s “like a sister” best friend, Megan, had been a constant presence in our marriage for years, and my patience with her had run out. Tensions boiled over at a family BBQ as long-hidden secrets came to light, leading to an explosive confrontation.
I loved Jack. God, I loved him — still do, if I’m being honest. After five years of marriage, things between us were solid and dependable… except for Megan.
A woman staring thoughtfully into the distance | Source: Midjourney
She was Jack’s best friend since childhood, his “sister in everything but blood,” or so he said. But it didn’t feel like that to me.
Megan was always there. On every vacation, every holiday, every family get-together, she’d insert herself into our lives with this smug little smile, as if she belonged more than I did. And every time I brought it up, Jack brushed it off.
“You’re just being insecure,” he’d say, his eyes rolling like I was the crazy one for feeling the way I did. “You don’t need to worry about Megan.”
A man glancing up at someone | Source: Midjourney
I remember the day I spoke to Jack’s mom, Nancy, about it. We were sitting on her front porch, drinking sweet tea in the sticky heat of summer. I loved Nancy; she had this way of making me feel like I wasn’t alone in all this.
“You need to set some boundaries, sweetie,” she said, her lips pursing. “Jack loves you, but that girl’s been in his life for a long time. You’ve gotta be firm.”
I nodded, though I didn’t know what those boundaries would even look like.
A thoughtful woman | Source: Midjourney
Jack was too close with Megan, and every time I even hinted at the idea of setting limits, he’d dismiss me.
Of course, Rick, Jack’s father, wasn’t any help. He adored Megan like she was the daughter he never had.
“You’ve just got to accept it,” he’d say, with that patronizing smirk of his. “Megan’s always going to be part of this family. You need to get over your insecurities.”
A man with a faint smirk | Source: Midjourney
I hated him for saying that and acting like my feelings were some kind of joke. But what could I do? I loved Jack, loved our life together. So I swallowed the bitterness and carried on. Until I couldn’t anymore.
Two months ago, something shifted.
Jack started coming home late, saying he had more work to do and more responsibilities to shoulder at the office. But the real change? The phone.
A man holding a cell phone | Source: Pexels
He was constantly on it — texting, checking, hiding it like it was something precious. My stomach turned every time I saw him tap out a message with that little smile on his face.
One night, when he was in the shower, I did it. I grabbed his phone. The minute I opened his messages, I found the true reason for his distance staring at me like a slap in the face.
The messages between him and Megan weren’t just friendly; they were intimate and flirtatious.
An emotional woman with her head in her hands | Source: Midjourney
“Can’t wait to see you again,” Megan had written, a winking emoji following her words. “Last night was incredible. Same time next week?”
Jack had responded almost immediately, “You bet. I’ll tell her I have to work late again. God, I miss you already.”
My heart pounded as I scrolled further, the bile rising in my throat.
“You know I’m yours, right?” he’d written in another text, his words sickeningly familiar, ones he’d used with me once.
A woman scrolling on a phone | Source: Midjourney
Megan’s reply had been just as nauseating: “I’ve always been yours, Jack. Just say the word, and I’m there.”
There were so many texts detailing their plans to meet up and sneak around. Their affair had been going on for months. My whole world cracked open right there in our bedroom, the proof of their affair burning into my brain.
I didn’t confront him. Not then. I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t sure when I would be, but I knew it had to be the right moment — the moment when he couldn’t weasel out of it.
A furious woman | Source: Midjourney
So there I was, two months later, at the annual family BBQ, pretending everything was fine while I watched Megan laugh and chat with Jack like they weren’t tearing my life apart behind my back.
It was torture, but I held it together for the kids and the sake of appearances.
Dinner was worse. We all sat around the table, passing bowls of potato salad and ribs, and Rick, with his usual arrogance, made the comment that broke me.
Potato salad on a dining table | Source: Pexels
“Megan’s always going to be a special part of our family,” he said, raising his glass to her. “It’s a pity some people just can’t get over their insecurities.”
That smirk. That damn smirk. It was like he was daring me to say something. My hands trembled as I placed my fork down, my heart pounding so loud I could barely hear anything else.
This was it. I stood, my chair scraping the ground, and every eye at the table turned to me.
A woman pointing her finger | Source: Midjourney
“You know what, Rick?” I said, my voice shaking with rage. “I might get over it if she wasn’t sleeping with my husband.”
Silence. The kind of silence that sucks all the air out of the room. Jack dropped his fork, his face going pale. Megan’s eyes widened in shock, but she didn’t say a word.
Nancy reacted first. She stood, eyes blazing, and pointed a shaking finger at Jack.
“How could you do this to her?!” she shouted, her voice thick with fury. “How could you betray your wife and family?”
A distressed woman | Source: Midjourney
Jack stammered, looking between me and his mother like a trapped animal. “It’s not. It wasn’t—”
“Okay, everyone needs to settle down,” Rick said. “Affairs happen sometimes, but you just need to move past it—”
But Nancy wasn’t finished. She turned to Rick, her lip curling in disgust.
“Move past it, huh?” She paused, her next words loaded with a bombshell of their own. “I don’t think so, not when I know that you’ve been having an affair with Megan, too.”
An emotional woman | Source: Midjourney
Megan’s face drained of color. For a moment, I thought she might actually pass out. The entire table stared in disbelief as the weight of Nancy’s words sank in like a stone.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Jack asked, his voice trembling as he looked from Nancy to Megan.
Nancy laughed, but there was no humor in it. “I’ve known for a while now, Jack. Rick and Megan, running around behind my back, behind all of our backs. I stayed quiet because I didn’t want to lose everything. But now? I’m done.”
A woman speaking to someone | Source: Midjourney
She shook her head, wiping a tear that slipped down her cheek.
Rick had the nerve to act surprised, but I saw the guilt flicker in his eyes. “Nancy, sweetheart, it was a mistake—”
“Mistake?” Nancy cut him off, her voice icy. “Don’t you dare try to downplay this. You’ve been cheating on me for God knows how long, and now you’ve lost me. You’ve lost everything. And you!” She pointed at Megan. “Well, you really like to keep it in the family, don’t you?”
An embarrassed woman | Source: Midjourney
The next few days were a blur. Nancy kicked Rick out of the house and filed for divorce. She told me she didn’t care about the money anymore. After years of being afraid, she was finally free.
As for me, I packed my things. I didn’t cry when I left. Jack stood in the doorway, his voice cracking as he begged me to forgive him, to stay for the kids. His hands were outstretched, but I didn’t move. I couldn’t.
The damage was too deep. Megan had destroyed my marriage, and Jack had let her. So I destroyed her.
A frowning woman | Source: Midjourney
I sat down at the kitchen table that night, hands shaking with fury as I typed out the post that would expose her for who she really was:
I’ve kept quiet for too long, but no more. Megan, the woman who’s pretended to be part of our family for years, has been having an affair with my husband, Jack. She’s betrayed not just me but everyone who ever trusted her.
This is the same woman who cozied up to my kids, smiled at our family BBQs, and acted like she belonged. Well, here’s the truth—she’s been sneaking around with my husband AND his father for months. Don’t let her fool you; she’s not who she pretends to be.
A woman typing on her phone | Source: Midjourney
It was brutal, but it was the truth. The post spread like wildfire, and soon, everyone knew what she’d done.
Megan, well, she wasn’t welcome anywhere anymore. Rick, who had once been her biggest defender, realized she had played him too.
She lost her job, her reputation, and any respect she once had in the community. I made sure of that. I exposed her lies for everyone to see, and now she had nothing.
I didn’t feel sorry for her. Not one bit.
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