Ronald Lee Galyon and Donald Lee Galyon (October 28, 1951 – July 4, 2020)[1] were 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 29 October 2014, possessed the world record for the longest-lived conjoined twins in history when they surpassed prior record holders Chang and Eng Bunker.
They were born at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, on October 28, 1951, to Wesley and Eileen Galyon. Eileen was not expecting twins. They were joined from the sternum to the groin and shared a set of organs.[1] After a two-year stay in the hospital, it was determined that they could not be safely separated. Local schools deemed the twins a distraction, so they were not formally educated, resulting in their lifelong functional illiteracy.[2]
With nine children to support, their father Wesley decided to take the twins on the road as a sideshow attraction. The boys were exhibited in sideshows throughout the U.S. and later in Latin America.[3] Their tours made them celebrities and provided an income with which they supported their family.[2]
Later life
In 1991, after three decades in entertainment, the pair retired[4] and moved into their first independent home in Dayton, Ohio, in a house purchased with sideshow earnings. They were active in the community and lived a largely normal life by means of a custom double wheelchair. Although retired from show business, the twins made numerous television appearances. They appeared on The Jerry Springer Show in 1997, a Discovery Channeldocumentary in 1998 and a Channel Five documentary in 2009.[5][6]
In 2009, Ronnie developed a life-threatening infection in his lungs, which quickly endangered both twins. After their hospitalization, they required round-the-clock care. Their younger brother Jim and his wife Mary, who lived in the same city, were unable to bring the twins into their home as it was not handicap accessible, until an outpouring of donations and volunteers from the local community assisted in building a special addition to the home.[7] On December 22, 2010, TLC premiered "The World's Oldest Conjoined Twins Move Home", which documented the building process as well as the twins' recovery and their return to the community.[8]
Death
The twins died of congestive heart failure in a hospice surrounded by their family in their native Dayton, Ohio, on July 4, 2020.[9][10]
References
^ abFranks, Sarah (July 4, 2020). "Galyon brothers, world's longest-living conjoined twins from Dayton, die at 68". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
^ abThoms, Sue (July 3, 2014). "Life as conjoined twins: 'You see the warmest of hearts, and you see the coldest of hearts'". Grand Rapids News. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
^Anderson, Elizabeth. "A collection of historic Images - Ronnie & Donnie Galyon". SideShow World. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
^Engel, Meredith (December 30, 2014). "Ronnie and Donnie Galyon become oldest living conjoined twins". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
^Frohlik, Cornelius (June 21, 2010). "BBC camera crew films conjoined Galyon twins". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
^Leibovich-Dar, Sara (July 15, 2003). "Till Death Do Us Part". Haaretz. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
^"Longest-Surviving Conjoined Twins Die at 68: 'They Couldn't Ask for Anything More,' Says Brother". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
^""World's Oldest Conjoined Twins Move Home" Premieres Wednesday, December 22 at 8/7c on TLC". The Futon Critic. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
^Hackworth, Franchesca (July 4, 2020). "Conjoined twins, Ronnie and Donnie Galyon of Beavercreek, passed away". WHIO. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
^"Brother of Longest-Surviving Conjoined Twins: 'They Made 68'". Associated Press. July 7, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
January 20, 2023
ronnie, donnie, galyon, ronald, galyon, donald, galyon, october, 1951, july, 2020, were, conjoined, twins, according, 2009, guinness, world, records, galyons, were, oldest, living, conjoined, twins, world, october, 2014, possessed, world, record, longest, live. Ronald Lee Galyon and Donald Lee Galyon October 28 1951 July 4 2020 1 were 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 29 October 2014 possessed the world record for the longest lived conjoined twins in history when they surpassed prior record holders Chang and Eng Bunker Ronnie and Donnie GalyonBornRonald Lee GalyonDonald Lee Galyon 1951 10 28 October 28 1951Dayton OhioDiedJuly 4 2020 2020 07 04 aged 68 Dayton OhioOccupation s Sideshow attractions reality TV personalitiesKnown forOldest set of conjoined twins Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Later life 3 Death 4 ReferencesEarly life and career EditThey were born at St Elizabeth Hospital in Dayton Ohio on October 28 1951 to Wesley and Eileen Galyon Eileen was not expecting twins They were joined from the sternum to the groin and shared a set of organs 1 After a two year stay in the hospital it was determined that they could not be safely separated Local schools deemed the twins a distraction so they were not formally educated resulting in their lifelong functional illiteracy 2 With nine children to support their father Wesley decided to take the twins on the road as a sideshow attraction The boys were exhibited in sideshows throughout the U S and later in Latin America 3 Their tours made them celebrities and provided an income with which they supported their family 2 Later life EditIn 1991 after three decades in entertainment the pair retired 4 and moved into their first independent home in Dayton Ohio in a house purchased with sideshow earnings They were active in the community and lived a largely normal life by means of a custom double wheelchair Although retired from show business the twins made numerous television appearances They appeared on The Jerry Springer Show in 1997 a Discovery Channel documentary in 1998 and a Channel Five documentary in 2009 5 6 In 2009 Ronnie developed a life threatening infection in his lungs which quickly endangered both twins After their hospitalization they required round the clock care Their younger brother Jim and his wife Mary who lived in the same city were unable to bring the twins into their home as it was not handicap accessible until an outpouring of donations and volunteers from the local community assisted in building a special addition to the home 7 On December 22 2010 TLC premiered The World s Oldest Conjoined Twins Move Home which documented the building process as well as the twins recovery and their return to the community 8 Death EditThe twins died of congestive heart failure in a hospice surrounded by their family in their native Dayton Ohio on July 4 2020 9 10 References Edit a b Franks Sarah July 4 2020 Galyon brothers world s longest living conjoined twins from Dayton die at 68 Dayton Daily News Retrieved July 5 2020 a b Thoms Sue July 3 2014 Life as conjoined twins You see the warmest of hearts and you see the coldest of hearts Grand Rapids News Retrieved June 27 2018 Anderson Elizabeth A collection of historic Images Ronnie amp Donnie Galyon SideShow World Retrieved June 27 2018 Engel Meredith December 30 2014 Ronnie and Donnie Galyon become oldest living conjoined twins New York Daily News Retrieved June 27 2018 Frohlik Cornelius June 21 2010 BBC camera crew films conjoined Galyon twins Dayton Daily News Retrieved July 6 2020 Leibovich Dar Sara July 15 2003 Till Death Do Us Part Haaretz Retrieved July 6 2020 Longest Surviving Conjoined Twins Die at 68 They Couldn t Ask for Anything More Says Brother PEOPLE com Retrieved July 9 2020 World s Oldest Conjoined Twins Move Home Premieres Wednesday December 22 at 8 7c on TLC The Futon Critic Retrieved June 27 2018 Hackworth Franchesca July 4 2020 Conjoined twins Ronnie and Donnie Galyon of Beavercreek passed away WHIO Retrieved July 5 2020 Brother of Longest Surviving Conjoined Twins They Made 68 Associated Press July 7 2020 Retrieved July 12 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ronnie and Donnie Galyon amp oldid 1128682991, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
