New life for girl with eight limbs
Pastor Dale Morgan
New life for girl with eight limbs*
Tracy McVeigh
Sunday December 16, 2007
The Observer
Nearly six weeks after an operation to remove her extra limbs, a little
girl born with four arms, four legs and extra internal organs left
hospital yesterday.
A surgical team of around 30 took away what amounted to Lakshmi Tatma's
headless twin sister, who was joined to her at the pelvis and did not
develop or separate properly in the womb. 'I cannot say how happy we
are,' Lakshmi's labourer father, Shambu, said as the family left Sparsh
Hospital in the southern city of Bangalore for a flight home to Bihar state.
Article continues
Lakshmi, named after the four-armed Hindu goddess of wealth, was
expected to be in the operating theatre for 40 hours in November, but
the surgery was completed in 27.
'Lakshmi can now stand with help,' said Sharan Patil, chairman of the
hospital. 'Medically, I have no reasons to believe she will not be a
normal adult.'