QuotePORTLAND, Maine - Shiloh Pepin, a girl who was born with fused legs, a rare condition often called "mermaid syndrome," and gained a wide following on the Internet and U.S. television, has died. She was 10.
Doctors had predicted she would at most only survive for days after her birth. The girl died at Maine Medical Center on Friday afternoon, hospital spokesman John Lamb said. She had been hospitalized in critical condition for nearly a week.
Being born with "mermaid syndrome," also known as sirenomelia, meant that the Kennebunkport girl had only one partially working kidney, no lower colon or genital organs and legs fused from the waist down.
Some children who have survived sirenomelia have had surgery to separate their legs, but Shiloh did not because blood vessels crossing from side to side in her circulatory system would have been severed. She had received two kidney transplants, the last one in 2007.
Her story was featured recently on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and other national television programs.
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 Oct. 10 and was placed on antibiotics and a ventilator.
For a while, Leslie Pepin said, things were looking up. "She's a tough little thing," she said of her daughter earlier this week.
Shiloh was a fifth-grader at Kennebunkport Consolidated School. "She was such a shining personality in that building," said Maureen King, chairwoman of the board of the regional school district. Counselors will be available next week to talk to students.
Through the television shows, news articles, Facebook and other Web sites, Shiloh inspired many.
"I live in Iowa. I have cerebral palsy. I love your video," 12-year-old Lydia Dawley wrote to Shiloh on Facebook. "You have a great personality I wish you lived close so we could be friends and hang out. You opened my eyes because you are so brave."
(http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/091024-pepin-hmed-1p.widec.jpg)
Not to be mean, but Lacey, weren't you one of those people making fun of her a few months back when we had a thread about her? huhdoodame;
proof mermaids exist
we all die eventually
Quote from: ДавиÌд on October 24, 2009, 09:56:32 AM
Not to be mean, but Lacey, weren't you one of those people making fun of her a few months back when we had a thread about her? huhdoodame;
No actually I am pretty sure I was one of the people defending her. I could be wrong though. But I'm pretty sure I was making fun of the tree man.
that is not what i want to imagine when i think of a mermaid
I'd watch the special about her on TLC I think... Sad to hear that she died. cry;
Quote from: Papa K on October 24, 2009, 10:03:37 AM
proof mermaids exist
It was actually found that what sailors thought were mermaids were actually manatees.
Nothing new here. baddood;
RIP: Hope and inspiration.
Also @ Wrench's thread
WHY WAS THE THREAD DIRECTED AT ME?
Quote from: GENOP on October 24, 2009, 02:13:05 PM
Also @ Wrench's thread
WHY WAS THE THREAD DIRECTED AT ME?
You made a thread with a video of her in it. It caused a riot.
ilu though
Quote from: Wrench on October 24, 2009, 02:14:41 PM
You made a thread with a video of her in it. It caused a riot.
ilu though
oh I forgot about that
and ilu 2 though
i don't remember this other thread
Quote from: Kaz on October 24, 2009, 02:16:42 PM
i don't remember this other thread
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8okYhcRwrgY[/youtube]
I posted this video and a very large intelligent conversation brewed.
Yeah, it is kinda sad that she had to go away.
But, I still find it pretty badass that she was somewhat a mermaid.
Like.
What if they found another mermaid, but in this case a merman, and received genes from both of them and create more little mermaids/mans.
Then maybe, throughout the process, they throw in some fish DNA, so they can get underwater breathing skills, and then we can have a race of mermaids/mans.
This is intense, really.
Quote from: bamhi on October 25, 2009, 02:10:24 AM
Yeah, it is kinda sad that she had to go away.
But, I still find it pretty badass that she was somewhat a mermaid.
Like.
What if they found another mermaid, but in this case a merman, and received genes from both of them and create more little mermaids/mans.
Then maybe, throughout the process, they throw in some fish DNA, so they can get underwater breathing skills, and then we can have a race of mermaids/mans.
This is intense, really.
those are called belugas. akudood;
Quote from: Ensign Halibar on October 25, 2009, 02:14:05 AM
those are called belugas. akudood;
No, no, no.
I'm talking about making some real mermaid shit.
Straight up.
Quote from: l a c e y on October 24, 2009, 09:54:12 AM
The girl died at Maine Medical Center on Friday
I thought it said "Marine"
awww I remember watching that on TLC
poor girl
Quote from: Nadine on October 25, 2009, 05:21:25 AM
awww I remember watching that on TLC
poor girl
i find it good because she would suffer and her organs would eventually be crushed under her fat and she would suffer even worse.
plus if she didn't die from her fatness crushing her before she reproduced, if she could reproduce, then she would pass them genes on to other kids and make more things.
Quote from: Ensign Halibar on October 25, 2009, 11:44:57 AM
i find it good because she would suffer and her organs would eventually be crushed under her fat and she would suffer even worse.
plus if she didn't die from her fatness crushing her before she reproduced, if she could reproduce, then she would pass them genes on to other kids and make more things.
Thats how I wanna go out
Quote from: Ensign Halibar on October 25, 2009, 11:44:57 AM
plus if she didn't die from her fatness crushing her before she reproduced, if she could reproduce, then she would pass them genes on to other kids and make more things.
who would reproduce with
that
Quote from: Not Famy on October 25, 2009, 11:50:24 AM
who would reproduce with that
idkol people who feel sympathy for that
Quote from: Ensign Halibar on October 25, 2009, 11:44:57 AM
i find it good because she would suffer and her organs would eventually be crushed under her fat and she would suffer even worse.
plus if she didn't die from her fatness crushing her before she reproduced, if she could reproduce, then she would pass them genes on to other kids and make more things.
I don't even think she was able to reproduce. But JMV you are being soo mean.
no1 life forever
How did she poop?
Quote from: Ensign Halibar on October 25, 2009, 11:44:57 AM
i find it good because she would suffer and her organs would eventually be crushed under her fat and she would suffer even worse.
plus if she didn't die from her fatness crushing her before she reproduced, if she could reproduce, then she would pass them genes on to other kids and make more things.
OKAY I LOL'D A LONG TIME AFTER READING THAT
Quote from: SuperMegaTrex on October 25, 2009, 10:05:51 PM
OKAY I LOL'D A LONG TIME AFTER READING THAT
You're an asshole.