The mermaid girl

Against all odds, Shiloh Pepin of Portland, Maine turned 8 years old in August 2007. She was born with Mermaid Syndrome, or Sirenomelia, one of the rarest conditions known to man. This condition means the foetus fails to develop normally below the waist, resulting in a fusion of the lower limbs. Of the few foetuses that actually make it to birth, most die within hours of leaving the womb.Although there are thought to be five known survivors worldwide - Shiloh is the only one not to have had her legs separated by surgery. Having only one, partially-working kidney, no lower colon and no genital organs, such an operation up until now has been too dangerous for her.