Lori and George Schappell
Lori and George Schappell (born as Lori and Dori Schappell, September 18, 1961 in Reading, Pennsylvania) are conjoined twins. George has performed as a country singer. In 2007, George, who was at that time known as Reba Schappell, stated that although born female, he identified with the male gender and changed his name to George.[1] George's gender identity is respected in this article.
Lori and George Schappell | |
|---|---|
| File:Reba Schappell in concert.jpg George in concert with Lori holding the microphone. | |
| Born | Lori and Dori Schapell September 18, 1961 Reading, Pennsylvania |
Careers
editGeorge Schappell has designed support equipment for people with physical handicaps, including a specialized wheelchair and a mobility aid for dogs.
As country singer Reba Schappell, George has performed widely in the United States and visited Germany and Japan and in 1997, won a L.A. Music Award for Best New Country Artist. George sang "Fear of Being Alone" over the credits of Stuck on You, a comedy film about a pair of fictitious conjoined twins.[2]
Lori acts as George's facilitator. She works in a laundry, arranging her workload around George's singing commitments. Lori says that, as a fan of George's, she pays to attend concerts, just like all the other fans, simply making herself quiet and "invisible" while George is performing.[3]
As conjoined twins, Lori and George Schappell have appeared in a number of television documentaries and talk shows. They have also acted in an episode of the television series Nip/Tuck, in which they played conjoined twins Rose and Raven Rosenburg.
On June 21, 2007, Lori and George took part in the grand opening of "Ripley's Believe It Or Not ! Odditorium" in Times Square in New York. This is the first time they were billed as Lori and George Schappell.[4]
Lifestyles
editBorn as Lori and Dori Schappell, the siblings are craniopagus conjoined twins, joined at the head, but having very different personalities and living, insofar as possible, individual lives. As a mark of individuality, and disliking the fact that their names rhymed, Dori chose to go by the name Reba. By 2007 he preferred to be known as George.
Lori and George spent the first 24 years of their lives living in an institution in Reading in which the majority of patients were suffering from severe intellectual disabilities. Although neither is intellectually disabled, George's physical condition required special care. A court decision was made that their parents would be unable to care for them properly and they were removed and institutionalized. In the 1960s there were few hospital institutions for people who had special needs that were particularly unusual. In order that they might be placed in the institution, they were diagnosed as suffering from intellectual disability. When they reached adulthood, George, with the help of Ginny Thornburgh, wife of former Governor of Pennsylvania Richard Thornburgh, fought to have this diagnosis overturned and Lori and George were able to go to college.[5]
While Lori is able-bodied, George has spina bifida, which has caused growth retardation of his lower body and severe mobility impairment.[1] They are therefore of very different heights with Lori being 5' 1" and George 4'4".[1] There was no wheelchair that suited George's unique condition, because to move around, he must be raised to Lori's height, to avoid undue strain upon her neck and back. The only thing on wheels that was the right height was a bar stool. Using this as the foundation, George designed the wheelchair that he currently uses.
They live in a two bedroom apartment, each maintaining their own private space. George has several pets. Lori is a trophy-winning bowler. They respect each other’s privacy in terms of work time, recreation and relationships.[1] Lori has had several boyfriends and was engaged to be married, but lost her partner in a motor accident.[1]
In 2006, George was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Reading, Pennsylvania. Lori did not join the LDS Church, but has been supportive of her brother's decision. In 2007 George decided to openly acknowledge that he had from childhood identified as male rather than female, and to permanently change his name to reflect this preference. [1]
Media
editLori and George Schappell have appeared in the following programs or articles:
- September 12, 1998: The Howard Stern Radio Show
- October 7, 1998: Howard Stern
- 1998: A&E documentary Face to Face: The Schappell Sisters
- 2000: The Learning Channel documentary Separate Lives
- May 15, 2002: The Jerry Springer Show; George was billed as Reba Schappell [6]
- August 17, 2004: American TV show Nip/Tuck, in the episode "Rose and Raven Rosenberg"; Raven was played by George (billed as Reba) Schappell; Rose was played by Lori Schappell
- May 31, 2002: Howard Stern
- 2005 TV Documentary: Medical Incredible. A documentary on Discovery Health Channel.
- 2005 TV documentary: Extraordinary People: Joined at the Head; George was billed as Dori Schappell)
- September 24, 2007: The Greek reality show Aksizei na to deis (Worth Seeing – Αξιζει να το δεις)
- 2007: The romantic comedy film X's & O's
- 2007: TV documentary Inside Extraordinary Humans: Science of Conjoined Twins
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Sally Brook, We have Normal Lives, The Sun, 2011-09-15
- ^ Best Doctors, Separation Anxiety, see below
- ^ BBC – Sisters' Hope. see below.
- ^ USA Weekly News, Ripley's Believe it or Not Direct quote: "Tona Lewis, left, of Brick, N.J., shakes hands with conjoined twins Lori and George Schappell during the grand opening celebration of Ripley's Believe It or Not Odditorium Thursday, June 21, 2007 in New York's Times Square."
- ^ BBC – Sisters' Hope. See below.
- ^ Jerry Springer Episode