Scientifically, conjoined twins evolve when a blastula or an early staged embryo is moderately detached to make two persons. They mostly die right after birth or are born still. Also known as Siamese twins, these babies come from the same embryo and are mostly attached to the pelvis, chest or abdomen.
Modern-day technology has helped increase the survivability of such cases and made it possible for conjoined twins to be separated, but for this to be accomplished, where the twins are joined, how many and which organs are being shared by the twins have to be taken into consideration. One of the most bizarre findings about this condition is that the twins can share the same private organ. You cannot envisage anyone living like that, can you?
Born in Mexico but raised in Connecticut, 22-year-old Lupita Andrade and her conjoined twin, Carmen Andrade, have existed most distinctively. After undergoing physical therapy to pick up faster on how to sit up and control their legs, the twins began to toddle at four, with Lupita controlling the left leg and Carmen controlling the right.
They share a liver, a reproductive system and genitals. It’s been an exhausting expedition for these twins; nonetheless, surgery is not an alternative, as many have suggested. According to them, if they had surgery, either they would both die, one would die, or they will both end up in the intensive care unit and never get out.
The sisters share the same sex organ. However, Lupita does not have sex or has no sexual attraction to others, a term known as asexual or agamic. Her sister has a boyfriend, Daniel, but they have not been sexually intimate, the part we are all curious about. Being a Siamese twin has not stopped either of them from dreaming about their future and getting their lives on the right track like everyone else.
For instance, Carmen wishes to get engaged in the future and work in the veterinary industry, while Lupita dreams of becoming a comedy writer one day. Carmen and her boyfriend, Daniel, love kids but have planned not to have any. Her sister shares the same sentiment, as they both have endometriosis, a condition whereby tissues similar to the lining of the uterus develop outside the uterus, making it difficult to get pregnant. The twins are also on a hormone blocker that inhibits them from menstruating.
Another bewildering question people tend to ask when it comes to conjoined twins is whether or not they feel each other’s emotions. Carmen affirmed that she can feel it when her sister is perturbed or wants to cry. They explained that they once had a dream of them falling off a plane and they both fell off their bed simultaneously. So, it’s probably “safe” to say that they can also have the same dreams? We will never know. They manage to share their life activities on social media.
As expected, they receive bad-mannered and impolite comments from insensitive social media followers, forgetting that they did not choose to look like that and are not less human. They cannot go out to the store or take a walk without people staring at them with repugnance, surprise, or pity. They even get recorded sometimes.
“It’s not all rainbows and sunshine, and we have had a lot of challenges. But in all, we have had a great life.” They said.
Contributor: Maame Efua Aikins
