Lori and George Schappell - Lifestyles

Lifestyles

Born 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 she preferred to be known as George.

Lori and George spent the first 24 years of their lives living in an institution in Reading, Pennsylvania 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.

While Lori is able-bodied, George has spina bifida, which has caused growth retardation of his lower body and severe mobility impairment. They are therefore of very different heights with Lori being 5' 1" and George 4'4". 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. Lori has had several boyfriends and was engaged to be married, but lost her partner in a motor accident.

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.