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Taylor Muhl is just like nearly 1 in every 30 people born in the world today, a twin – sort of. What sets her apart is that Muhl is technically her own twin.
Muhl, a singer and entertainer from California, has been diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Chimerism, meaning that she and her fraternal twin fused together while still in the womb. According to Muhl, the condition is so rare that only around 100 cases have been confirmed worldwide.
Those with Chimerism often times deal with troubling health issues.
Muhl told Yahoo! Lifestyle that she first became aware of her unusual condition when she was little, after noticing that none of her other friends’ bodies appeared to be divided down the middle into two different pigmentations, like her own. Later, when she started experiencing strange illnesses, her doctors realized she wasn’t just sporting a large birthmark as originally diagnosed.
“My autoimmune issues started pretty heavily as a preteen, and that was very difficult being so young, especially not knowing why I was sick,” Muhl told Yahoo.
Muhl was in her mid-20s when she was diagnosed with chimerism. Her health issues then were determined to be the result of one half of her body attacking the other, as she carries two sets of DNA, and therefore, two “different” immune systems, the site reports.
To fight off any further health issues, Muhl says she ingests strong probiotics and vitamin supplements, and commits herself to a healthy, active lifestyle.
