8-Limbed Girl Undergoes 40-Hour Surgery By 36 Surgeons
Crowds Worship Girl With Four Arms, Four Legs
POSTED: Tuesday, November 6, 2007
UPDATED: 10:00 am EST November 6, 2007
 Doctors said Lakshmi is joined to a "parasitic twin" that stopped developing in her mother's womb. She has two bodies fused together with one head and eight limbs. |
A 2-year-old girl who many people in India say was sent from God is undergoing a 40-hour life-saving surgery involving 36 specialists Tuesday.
IMAGES: Larger image of Lakshmi
VIDEO: Born With 8 Limbs
Doctors said Lakshmi is joined to a "parasitic twin" that stopped developing in her mother's womb. She has two bodies fused together with one head and eight limbs.The girl's father, who is a farmer, said he feared when she was born that he would not be able to care for her.Lakshmi was born during a Hindu holiday season and since her birth, crowds have come to worship her."Everyone started worshipping her," her father said. "We also worshipped her. The whole village was doing so."Lakshmi's first months were difficult because of infections and high fevers.After months of trying to find someone to take the case, the family was told of a doctor in Bangalore. He agreed to do the surgery for free."This is a special situation," the doctor said. "There are many, many issues and many, many specialists are needed. The first part is to get rid of this parasitic twin."Doctors put the risk of losing Lakshmi between 20 and 25 percent, according to an Associated Press report.The girl's family is asking for prayers from the public that the operation is a success.Lakshmi is named after the four-armed Hindu goddess of wealth.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
IMAGES: Larger image of Lakshmi VIDEO: Born With 8 Limbs Doctors said Lakshmi is joined to a "parasitic twin" that stopped developing in her mother's womb. She has two bodies fused together with one head and eight limbs.The girl's father, who is a farmer, said he feared when she was born that he would not be able to care for her.Lakshmi was born during a Hindu holiday season and since her birth, crowds have come to worship her."Everyone started worshipping her," her father said. "We also worshipped her. The whole village was doing so."Lakshmi's first months were difficult because of infections and high fevers.After months of trying to find someone to take the case, the family was told of a doctor in Bangalore. He agreed to do the surgery for free."This is a special situation," the doctor said. "There are many, many issues and many, many specialists are needed. The first part is to get rid of this parasitic twin."Doctors put the risk of losing Lakshmi between 20 and 25 percent, according to an Associated Press report.The girl's family is asking for prayers from the public that the operation is a success.Lakshmi is named after the four-armed Hindu goddess of wealth.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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