Homeless twins insist on staying together

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CHICAGO, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A homeless Chicago man who refused to move into a YMCA unless his twin brother could move with him is hospitalized with a clot in his lung, social workers said.

Social workers were unable to find Frank Nowotnik after his brother, Anthony, was rushed to St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center, the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday. Anthony became sick the day after the Tribune ran a story about the brothers and their determination to stick together.

Dr. Steven Abdelmak said Frank Nowotnik can stay in his brother's room at St. Mary. The Tribune story led to strangers offering to pay for hotel rooms for the brothers until space opens up for both of them at the Lakeview Y.

Anthony Nowotnik said the story has been a blessing because it allowed him to reconnect with the rest of his family. He has seven half-brothers and sisters and 17 nieces and nephews.

"It took that article to get me back to my family," he said. "A couple of days after Christmas, but I still enjoyed the present."

The brothers, 42, told the newspaper they had been living on the streets since they were 13.