Entertainer. Donnie and Ronnie Galyon were American conjoined twins. According to the 2009 "Guinness World Records," the Galyons were the oldest living set of conjoined twins in the world, and, as of October 26, 2014, possessed the world record for the longest-lived conjoined twins in history when they surpassed prior record holders Giacomo and Giovanni Battista Tocci. Born in Italy in the 19th century, the Battista twins were identical and lived no more than 63 years. The Galyon parents were not expecting twins much less twins joined from the sternum to the groin, sharing a set of organs. They had separate hearts and stomachs, but shared a set of lower digestive organs. Usually, 75% of conjoined twins died within days of their birth, thus making the Galyon twins unique by simply living. To support their large family, their father decided to exhibit the four-year-old twins in sideshows throughout the United States and later in Latin America. After 30 years of entertaining the public, the twins retired, purchasing a home using their earnings from the sideshows. To be independent, they had a double wheelchair for mobility. They did appear on a few television shows after retirement. After becoming dependent with chronic health problems, they were in need of a full-time care giver for ten years before their deaths. After living for 68 years, 8 months and seven days, the twins died from congestive heart failure.
Entertainer. Donnie and Ronnie Galyon were American conjoined twins. According to the 2009 "Guinness World Records," the Galyons were the oldest living set of conjoined twins in the world, and, as of October 26, 2014, possessed the world record for the longest-lived conjoined twins in history when they surpassed prior record holders Giacomo and Giovanni Battista Tocci. Born in Italy in the 19th century, the Battista twins were identical and lived no more than 63 years. The Galyon parents were not expecting twins much less twins joined from the sternum to the groin, sharing a set of organs. They had separate hearts and stomachs, but shared a set of lower digestive organs. Usually, 75% of conjoined twins died within days of their birth, thus making the Galyon twins unique by simply living. To support their large family, their father decided to exhibit the four-year-old twins in sideshows throughout the United States and later in Latin America. After 30 years of entertaining the public, the twins retired, purchasing a home using their earnings from the sideshows. To be independent, they had a double wheelchair for mobility. They did appear on a few television shows after retirement. After becoming dependent with chronic health problems, they were in need of a full-time care giver for ten years before their deaths. After living for 68 years, 8 months and seven days, the twins died from congestive heart failure.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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GALYON
World's Oldest
Conjoined Twins
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