Peruvian Mermaid Maimed in Name of Normality

LIMA, Peru (AP) – Doctors successfully separated the fused legs of
a Peruvian baby during a risky, nationally televised operation Wednesday,
and said they hoped the vivacious, bright-eyed girl would be walking
in two years.

But they cautioned that 13-month-old Milagros Cerron, who was born with
a rare congenital defect known as sirenomelia, or "mermaid syndrome," will
need years of reconstructive surgery before she is fully healed.

Milagros, affectionately called "the little mermaid" by Peruvians,
was born with her legs fused together from her thighs to her ankles.

Doctors had planned to begin repairing the birth defect only up to the
child’s knees, but Wednesday’s procedure exceeded their expectations
and they separated the entire length of the legs.

"This is the final result that we have come to in this extraordinary
surgical intervention," said Dr. Luis Rubio, holding up Milagros’
legs in a V-shape, displaying the line of stitches extending up from
her heels
to her inner thighs. "We have mobility of the independent knee joints."

"This surgical intervention has been a true success," he said.

Although ruining her chance for a career at Disney World…..

from the National Post