Conjoined twins Shivanath and Shivram Sahu caused quite a stir when they were born in India, with some people in their village worshipping them as divine incarnations. And while one doctor has said that it would be possible to separate them, the 12-year-old boys, who were born joined at the waist, are determined to remain together.
The twins share two legs and four arms and work in tandem to get around. They are believed to share the same stomach but have independent lungs, hearts and brains.
The twins are able to walk down the stairs of their simple split-level home and even run on all six limbs to play cricket and other games with neighbouring children. And with practice they have learned to do all their basic daily chores with minimal fuss, including showering, eating, getting dressed and combing each other's hair. They are also talented academics and considered among the top students at their local school, much to the pride of their doting father, Raj Kumar, 45, who also has five daughters.
Doctors believe it's possible to separate the twins - but there will be drastic consequences for Shivanath, who appears to be the weaker of the two twins. Shivram would likely keep both legs and could start living a more normal life while Shivanath would be left with no legs and needing full-time care.
Hence the twins and their father are adamant they will not be parted. Their father told MailOnline:
Even though they were created this way and most consider them weird, Shivram and Shivanath are still nothing but kids and they seem to enjoy their lives the way they are. Their story teaches us, among other things, that we can always make something out of our every discomfort, find a reason to smile even when we are in pains and walk head up high wherever we find ourselves, not giving a hoot about what others think of us!
Share their story with your friends on facebook... you just might inspire someone.
The twins share two legs and four arms and work in tandem to get around. They are believed to share the same stomach but have independent lungs, hearts and brains.
The twins are able to walk down the stairs of their simple split-level home and even run on all six limbs to play cricket and other games with neighbouring children. And with practice they have learned to do all their basic daily chores with minimal fuss, including showering, eating, getting dressed and combing each other's hair. They are also talented academics and considered among the top students at their local school, much to the pride of their doting father, Raj Kumar, 45, who also has five daughters.
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Doctors believe it's possible to separate the twins - but there will be drastic consequences for Shivanath, who appears to be the weaker of the two twins. Shivram would likely keep both legs and could start living a more normal life while Shivanath would be left with no legs and needing full-time care.
Hence the twins and their father are adamant they will not be parted. Their father told MailOnline:
‘For everyone it is good fun to watch my children, but only I understand all the problems they have. During rainy season it becomes difficult for them to walk and when one wants to sit the other has to lie down. But they don't fight. They have similar opinions and if one says he wants to play the other one agrees. God has created them like this so they have to walk like they do. They will remain like this. I don't want anything else. Even if doctors say so, I won't get my children separated. I have no interest in money. I'm the one who will work hard to nourish them. I don't need any help.’Shivram also said:
‘We don't wish to get separated. We will stay like this even when we grow old. We want to live as we are.’
Even though they were created this way and most consider them weird, Shivram and Shivanath are still nothing but kids and they seem to enjoy their lives the way they are. Their story teaches us, among other things, that we can always make something out of our every discomfort, find a reason to smile even when we are in pains and walk head up high wherever we find ourselves, not giving a hoot about what others think of us!
Share their story with your friends on facebook... you just might inspire someone.