The Story of Conjoined Twins Chang & Eng
How they were able to prosper because of their condition
Chang and Eng Bunker were sons born to Nok and Ti-eye in Meklong, Siam (now Thailand) in 1811. Their father was born in China and worked as a fisherman, while their mother raised them and their seven other siblings. They were just normal boys who played with their brothers and sisters along the riverbank, swam, and steered their father’s boat; except that they were stuck together. They were what we know now as conjoined twins.
What Are Conjoined Twins?
In modern times, we refer to persons being born with this condition as conjoined twins. This means that the two siblings are connected to each other. It occurs when the embryo that separates in utero to form identical twins does not completely separate. Conjoined twins can be connected at the head, chest, abdomen, spine, pelvis, or anywhere the splitting process decides to stop.
Unfortunately, many conjoined twins are stillborn or die shortly after birth, especially before modern medicine. Thankfully, advances in medical technology and surgical techniques have greatly…
