'Mermaid Girl' Shiloh Pepin has died at the age of 10 (videos)

October 25, 2:39 AMNewark Reality TV ExaminerRobyn Gormish

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"Mermaid Girl" Shiloh Pepin died on Friday at the age of ten
oprah.com

Defying all odds from birth “Mermaid Girl” Shiloh Pepin died on Friday afternoon at Maine Medical Center. “Mermaid Girl” was featured on TLC numerous times and appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show about a month ago. The “Mermaid Girl” was born with a syndrome called Sirenomelia, a rare congenital deformity in which the legs are fused together, giving the appearance of a mermaid. Most babies born with Sirenomelia die within days.

Shiloh Pepin recently celebrated her 10th birthday and appeared on the Oprah show on September 22, 2009, stating she liked her legs and loves the pool, which she had a specially designed wet suit for. Shiloh explained to Oprah she did not want her legs separated and was a seemingly very happy young lady, also when asked by Oprah if she di mind being called “Mermaid Girl” she stated no with a smile.

The children who have survived Sirenomelia have had surgery to separate their legs, but Shiloh could not because blood vessels crossing from side to side in her circulatory system would have been severed. The “Mermaid Girl” had only one partially working kidney, no lower colon or genital organs and legs fused from the waist down. She had received two kidney transplants, the last one in 2007.

Earlier this month, her mother, Leslie Pepin, said her daughter came down with a cold that quickly turned to pneumonia. Shiloh was rushed to Maine Medical Center on October 10th and was placed on antibiotics and a ventilator. Her mother had the following to say about her daughter Shiloh "She was a tough little thing."

Our thoughts and sympathy are with Shiloh Pepin’s family and many friends!
Did you watch Shiloh Pepin on Oprah or the TLC specials? Leave a comment below on how Shiloh Pepin and her story impacted you!

A Tribute to Shiloh Pepin

THE LITTLE MERMAID

Shiloh-Mermaid Girl video of Shiloh at the doctor TLC episode 

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