US 'mermaid' girl dies

[HURAKAN]

US 'mermaid' girl dies
2009-10-24 20:25

Kennebunkport, Maine - Shiloh Pepin, a girl born with a rare condition often called "mermaid syndrome," has died. She was 10.

Maine Medical Center spokesperson John Lamb said Shiloh died at the hospital Friday afternoon. She had been hospitalised in critical condition since last week.

Shiloh was born with sirenomelia, meaning her legs were fused from the waist down. She had no lower colon or genital organs and only one partially working kidney. Doctors told her parents that she would likely survive for only hours, maybe days.

Some children who have survived sirenomelia have had surgery to separate their legs, but Shiloh's circulatory system made that challenging because crisscrossing blood vessels would have been severed.

Her story has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and other national TV programs

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I saw her story in one of the Discovery Channels and she seemed a very determined person and very bright. Very sad to hear her passing. RIP

[O Town]

I also watched her show on Discovery quite a few times. Very sad news indeed.
RIP Shiloh.

[vbhoutex]

Yes she was a very determined little girl. May she RIP. Sending up prayers for her family.

[Stephanie]

Wow! I've never heard of her before. It's amazing that she did live as long as she did.

May Shiloh RIP.

[LilGrimmy]

I followed her story religiously. I found her fascinating. It made me so sad when i found out she had passed.
RIP Shiloh