More fun with parasitic twins

You've probably already read or seen this but I can't let it go by with out a mention.

Yesterday doctors in Bangalore Indian successfully removed the parasitic twin (four limbs and torso) from a two year old girl named Lakshmi.

Lakshmi's twin stopped developing in the womb (she never got a head) and was partially absorbed by her body. This rare condition is called isciopagus.

Lakshmi, is lucky in some ways. Lakshmi is named after the four-armed Hindu goddess of wealth, and some in her poor village in the northern state of Bihar revere her as a goddess (a temple is being built despite her surgery). Lucky for her she sort of resembles a goddess in her culture. In many third world countries or in the past children born with conditions like this died, were thought of as evil or cursed. If they were lucky they could make a living as a "performer" otherwise they lived in seclusion.

Apparently people did seek to make money from her. Her parents kept her in hiding after a circus apparently tried to buy her.

Complications for Lakshmi’s surgery were many: the two spines are merged, she has four kidneys, entangled nerves, two stomach cavities and two chest cavities.

It took over twenty-four hours to complete her operation, so far she is doing well.