GRAND RAPIDS, MI – As Ronnie and Donnie Galyon, America’s oldest living conjoined twins, prepare for a major milestone this weekend, they are giving thanks for a gift from Grand Rapids.
That gift is a good night’s sleep - courtesy of a customized bed crafted by a team from Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. The twins credit the bed with making a big improvement in their health and quality of life.
“I sleep like a baby,” said Ronnie Galyon, as he and his brother, Donnie, sat facing each other in the bed in their home near Dayton, Ohio.
The twins are throwing a party Saturday to mark a big moment. That is the day they will surpass their heroes, Chang and Eng Bunker, the world’s most famous conjoined twins. Born in Thailand in 1811, the Bunkers are the ones who inspired the term “Siamese twins.”
The Bunkers lived 62 years, 8 months and 6 days. On July 5, the Galyons will reach 62 years, 8 months and 7 days.
The bed they received in 2010 from Mary Free Bed is one of the reasons they made it this far, says their sister-in-law Mary Galyon.
Matt Lefevre, a physical therapist who helped design the bed, was pleased to learn it has made such a difference for Ronnie and Donnie Galyon. It was a unique challenge. Ronnie and Donnie are joined at the waist, facing each other. They have four arms and legs and separate hearts and stomachs, but they share a lower digestive tract.
Lefevre and seat technician Michael Bolton aimed to create a bed that would be safe and comfortable for the twins at night and throughout the day, because they spend most of their time in it.
“It’s great to hear it’s holding up and how much it’s helping them,” Lefevre said.
From the age of 4, Ronnie and Donnie Galyon performed in carnival sideshows in the U.S. and circuses throughout Central and South America. They retired in 1991 at the age of 39 and bought a house in Beavercreek, Ohio.
In 2010, however, they were in poor health. Ronnie had suffered a viral infection that caused blood clots in his lungs, and the illness left them weak. Their youngest brother, Jim Galyon, wanted them to move in with him, but his home was not handicapped-accessible.
A family friend contacted the Christian Youth Corps, which led an effort to build an addition to Jim’s home to accommodate the twins. A new bed was a key part of that effort.
For years, Ronnie and Donnie had slept in a queen-sized bed, taking turns lying on top of each other. But after Ronnie’s illness, that position felt suffocating. They adapted by sleeping on the floor, propped up by wedge-shaped cushions.
After the Christian Youth Corps recruited Mary Free Bed to provide a bed, Lefevre and Bolton drove to the Galyons’ home to meet the twins and assess the situation. They returned later with a trailer and assembled the bed at the house.
The bed is about 3 feet wide and is built with a steel frame strong enough to hold Ronnie and Donnie, who weigh more than 400 pounds. In the middle of the bed are two backrests that face each other. The twins sit with their legs splayed out, as they have all their lives.
The backrests are offset a bit to match the configuration of the twins’ bodies. They also can be adjusted so each can choose to lean back a bit or sit up straighter.
“If he’s a little bit sleepy, he can go to sleep before I do,” Ronnie said.
The mattress, made with five layers of memory foam, has held up well, Jim said.
“Four years and not one bedsore,” he said. “That’s not just the bed – that’s the care they’re getting. But that’s huge.”
The twins’ living area includes a kitchen, wide hallways and an extra-large bathroom and shower, so they can easily maneuver around. Above the bed is a hoist system that can be used if the twins have trouble getting out of bed.
In the past four years, their health has improved greatly, Jim said. They used to need two people helping them get up from the bed and walk across the room. Now they regularly get up on their own, and they usually do 10 laps around the room a day.
They also go on outings – they go fishing, to restaurants, baseball games and fairs, and they regularly go to a nearby campground with Jim and Mary. With a customized wheelchair, they make trips to a nearby convenience store.
Asked what he thinks of the bed, Donnie said simply, “I like it.”
Ronnie elaborated, explaining how he used to be cranky from lack of sleep.
“Now, every day, I wake up from this bed feeling relaxed and refreshed,” he said. “After having this bed here, I wake up every day and have a big smile on my face.”
The bed is just one of several factors that made a difference for Ronnie and Donnie, Lefevre said. He admires the care they receive from Jim and Mary Galyon and the addition built by the Christian Youth Corps and many volunteers in the area.
“I know Mike and myself feel lucky to be part of it. We still remember it,” he said. “We will remember it forever.”