The medical condition where two human legs are fused together is called Sirenomelia or Mermaid Syndrome (1). This is a condition that exists in one in every 100,000 live births worldwide and is as common as conjoined twins (1). The condition results as a genetic anomaly that is speculated to have been caused by material diabetes and overweight mothers (1). In some cases, if there are no other complications, doctors will attempt to operate on the legs and separate them (1). In other cases, children are born with other abnormalities such as missing organs (kidney, bladder, digestive organs and reproductive organs) and other precautions would need to be addressed first (3).
Fig. 1 – Mermaid Syndrome. Available from: documentingreality.com.
The most well known case in the United States is Shiloh Pepin, who was born with this deformity and survived until the age of 10 (2). Shiloh had many other abnormalities, such as missing internal organs, and doctors were not able to separate her legs at birth (2). Despite the deformity, stigmatizm and numerous surgeries and complications in her childhood, Shiloh lived a relatively normal and happy life with her caring family (2). The girl and her family appeared on the Oprah Show in 2009 and told the world that she did not mind being called “mermaid girl” (2). She recently died in October, 2009 (2).
Fig. 2 – Shiloh Pepin. Available from: chikamuna.com.
The video of her story can be found here:
http://www.extratv.com/2009/10/24/mermaid-girl-shiloh-pepin-dies/
References:
1. Wikipedia. “Sirenomelia”. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirenomelia. Retrieved on June 18, 2012.
2. ExtraTV.com. “‘Mermaid Girl’ Shiloh Pepin Dies”. Available from: http://www.extratv.com/2009/10/24/mermaid-girl-shiloh-pepin-dies/.Retrieved on June 18, 2012.
3. NBC.com. “‘Mermaid girl’ from Peru needs a kidney transplant – Vitals”. Available from: http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/05/10583917-mermaid-girl-from-peru-needs-a-kidney-transplant?lite. Retrieved from June 18, 2012.
Mermaids Proved Real: 