Maine girl with 'mermaid syndrome' dies at 10

xCLAVEx · Oct 26, 2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

PORTLAND, 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 national television, has died. She was 10.

Doctors had predicted she would only survive only for days after her birth at the most, but the girl, described by her mother as "a tough little thing," 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 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://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091024/ca...tlv2 MwBgAg--

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Portla.../us_obit_pepin

Bad for the family that she died, but I had no idea "Mermaid Syndrome" even existed.

Jandar · Oct 26, 2009, 03:09 PM

As a father, my heart goes out to that family.

Just watching her overcome her own handicaps and light up people's lives around here made her an inspiration.

Shadowless · Oct 26, 2009, 03:53 PM

That's friggin terrible. My heart goes out to the family.

AluminumHaste · Oct 26, 2009, 05:16 PM

It's sad she died, but really they gave her TWO kidneys? Like what, no one else needed the kidney so they gave her another one after the first died? I thought that if you weren't going to live long you were not able to get on transplant lists as it's a waste of organs

Man I sound like a prick.

bete · Oct 26, 2009, 05:18 PM

Poor little squirt.

Next time your feeling sorry for yourself and how tough you've got things............................................................don't.

0mar · Oct 26, 2009, 06:07 PM

The baby should have never been carried to term. That's my opinion at least. I know I'd have no problems terminating such a pregnancy.

***Lupine*** · Oct 26, 2009, 06:28 PM

Shame. She was on Oprah not long ago and had some pretty big dreams.

aop · Oct 26, 2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0mar

The baby should have never been carried to term. That's my opinion at least. I know I'd have no problems terminating such a pregnancy.

I hope you have one of these avaible:

Personally I just LOLd after reading your post and then your sig but some people are more sensitive to teh internet hate machin.

switchWRX · Oct 26, 2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0mar

The baby should have never been carried to term. That's my opinion at least. I know I'd have no problems terminating such a pregnancy.

Its a shame your parents didn't share the same opinion.

0mar · Oct 26, 2009, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by switchWRX

Its a shame your parents didn't share the same opinion.

Why? I'm a perfectly healthy person that contributes to society. Just because my views make you uncomfortable means I should never exist? You go ahead and have a child that is nothing but a drain on resources. She never had a chance at all and everyone knew that. It's a sad story, of course, but it could have been avoided with a test and a pill.

Arrowhead · Oct 26, 2009, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0mar

Why? I'm a perfectly healthy person that contributes to society. Just because my views make you uncomfortable means I should never exist? You go ahead and have a child that is nothing but a drain on resources. She never had a chance at all and everyone knew that. It's a sad story, of course, but it could have been avoided with a test and a pill.

I think society tried something similar before. It wasn't so nice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_for...ased_Offspring

0mar · Oct 26, 2009, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arrowhead

I think society tried something similar before. It wasn't so nice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_for...ased_Offspring

A 2nd term abortion is not the same thing as euthanasia. This sort of congenital disease would be picked up by an ultrasound.

Arrowhead · Oct 26, 2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0mar

A 2nd term abortion is not the same thing as euthanasia. This sort of congenital disease would be picked up by an ultrasound.

Are you saying that this kind of abortion should be mandatory though? If not, I don't think it's up to you to judge these people for having their child.

switchWRX · Oct 26, 2009, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0mar

Why? I'm a perfectly healthy person that contributes to society. Just because my views make you uncomfortable means I should never exist? You go ahead and have a child that is nothing but a drain on resources. She never had a chance at all and everyone knew that. It's a sad story, of course, but it could have been avoided with a test and a pill.

Why? Because it was an ignorant comment -- I am also pretty sure you would be saying something different if it was your child or little sister. Sounds cool to be cold on the internet but in my opinion you just look like a c*nt with no life experience.

DorXtar · Oct 26, 2009, 11:19 PM

I think 0mar knows that he shouldn't be. He wishes his parents had used the pill.

0mar · Oct 27, 2009, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arrowhead

Are you saying that this kind of abortion should be mandatory though? If not, I don't think it's up to you to judge these people for having their child.

I'm saying if it was my wife who was pregnant with that sort of congenital defect, I'd recommend getting an abortion. I never force my views on others, I'm just stating what should have been done.

Quote:

Why? Because it was an ignorant comment -- I am also pretty sure you would be saying something different if it was your child or little sister. Sounds cool to be cold on the internet but in my opinion you just look like a c*nt with no life experience.

Please. Spare me the "holier-than-thou" attitude. No one wants to have this sort of burden on their family. It breaks families apart, bankrupts them and for what? Nothing. How many resources were dumped on this child who had no chance at a normal life. It's cold and callous, but it's also the right thing to do. No one should feel any real attachment to a clump of cells or a tiny blob of flesh. If there's a detectable defect, take a pill and try again. Simple as that.

OlderBudweiser · Oct 27, 2009, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0mar

I'm saying if it was my wife who was pregnant with that sort of congenital defect, I'd recommend getting an abortion. I never force my views on others, I'm just stating what should have been done.

Please. Spare me the "holier-than-thou" attitude. No one wants to have this sort of burden on their family. It breaks families apart, bankrupts them and for what? Nothing. How many resources were dumped on this child who had no chance at a normal life. It's cold and callous, but it's also the right thing to do. No one should feel any real attachment to a clump of cells or a tiny blob of flesh. If there's a detectable defect, take a pill and try again. Simple as that.

Believe me,if i was in your neighbourhood right now,i would kick you in the nuts.Let me guess,you don't have any kids?

Besides,my brother also had the info of the doctors that his first kid probably would be born with a deformity,he would have the Syndrom of Down AND a misgrown back.Their world collapsed,but they didn't wanna talk about abortion.And you know what??His son is PERFECTLY healthy...

Deftones · Oct 27, 2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0mar

No one wants to have this sort of burden on their family. It breaks families apart, bankrupts them and for what? Nothing. How many resources were dumped on this child who had no chance at a normal life.

You do realize you're talking about somebodies kid right? You talk as if "money" and "resources" are more important than someones life. This isn't starcraft you ****head, these are peoples' lives. It's attitudes like this that cause genocides.

Maybe you should have been aborted for the defect of being a douche.

Way to totally troll the **** out of this thread. Now please die in a fire.

Pr3tty F1y · Oct 27, 2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0mar

Please. Spare me the "holier-than-thou" attitude. No one wants to have this sort of burden on their family. It breaks families apart, bankrupts them and for what? Nothing. How many resources were dumped on this child who had no chance at a normal life. It's cold and callous, but it's also the right thing to do. [b/]No one should feel any real attachment to a clump of cells or a tiny blob of flesh.[/b] If there's a detectable defect, take a pill and try again. Simple as that.

So if someone hacks off your dick, don't worry, be happy? I mean, it's just a clump of cells, a tiny blob of flesh...

OlderBudweiser · Oct 27, 2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pr3tty F1y

So if someone hacks off your dick, don't worry, be happy? I mean, it's just a clump of cells, a tiny blob of flesh...

fixed it for ya

riho · Oct 27, 2009, 12:06 PM

Anyone started the P&R countdown already?

1

KickAssCop · Oct 27, 2009, 12:51 PM

Extremely unfortunate for the kid. Hope she gets a place in heaven.

0mar · Oct 27, 2009, 05:57 PM

All I'm reading is that a bunch of butt hurt people are mad because my ideology makes perfect logical sense, but it hurts their feelings.

switchWRX · Oct 27, 2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0mar

All I'm reading is that a bunch of butt hurt people are mad because my ideology makes perfect logical sense, but it hurts their feelings.

Not really, you just sound like an idiot. Who are you to judge who should and shouldn't be given a chance at life?

The little girl had ten years of life and you would take that away from her?

Have a little compassion man.

AluminumHaste · Oct 27, 2009, 06:43 PM

I have to agree with you, it hurts me to think so coldly about a human being, but I still think she should have been passed over for those two kidney replacements, there's other people who have a much better chance of survival who could probably have used them.

Argoon1981 · Oct 27, 2009, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0mar

All I'm reading is that a bunch of butt hurt people are mad because my ideology makes perfect logical sense, but it hurts their feelings.

For someone with a quote of Adolf Hitler in is sig, and i suspect a nazi symbol as a avatar, i didn't expected better.

Pr3tty F1y · Oct 27, 2009, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0mar

All I'm reading is that a bunch of butt hurt people are mad because my ideology makes perfect logical sense, but it hurts their feelings.

You didn't answer my question.

0mar · Oct 27, 2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pr3tty F1y

So if someone hacks off your dick, don't worry, be happy? I mean, it's just a clump of cells, a tiny blob of flesh...

Good luck trying. I'll snap your chicken neck.

0mar · Oct 27, 2009, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by switchWRX

Not really, you just sound like an idiot. Who are you to judge who should and shouldn't be given a chance at life?

The little girl had ten years of life and you would take that away from her?

Have a little compassion man.

I'm not judging, I'm simply saying that if it were my son/daughter who was diagnosed in this manner, we would abort the pregnancy and try again. 10 years of "life" vs a normal, 72 year life span? I'll take the normal kid every single time. I did not and never did advocate for her to be emphasized as soon as she was born, I'm saying she should have never gotten to that point. She would not know life because she would have been arrested in development at 30 days or 45 days or whatever the earliest is.

javiermq · Oct 27, 2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0mar

Why? I'm a perfectly healthy person that contributes to society. Just because my views make you uncomfortable means I should never exist? You go ahead and have a child that is nothing but a drain on resources. She never had a chance at all and everyone knew that. It's a sad story, of course, but it could have been avoided with a test and a pill.

I suppose you follow your own advice and terminate your own next newborn if you find out s/he is going to be a "resource waster".

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Oct 26, 2009, 05:16 PM	#4
AluminumHaste Rage3D Veteran Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Home Posts: 6,175	It's sad she died, but really they gave her TWO kidneys? Like what, no one else needed the kidney so they gave her another one after the first died? I thought that if you weren't going to live long you were not able to get on transplant lists as it's a waste of organs Man I sound like a prick. __________________ Because everyone knows that action oriented independant women all munch more carpet than a malfunctioning vacuum cleaner (\_/) (O.o) (> <)

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Oct 26, 2009, 03:09 PM	#2
Jandar Old Skool Hero Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Orange Park, FL Posts: 751	As a father, my heart goes out to that family. Just watching her overcome her own handicaps and light up people's lives around here made her an inspiration.

Oct 26, 2009, 05:18 PM	#5
bete Huh? Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,888	Poor little squirt. Next time your feeling sorry for yourself and how tough you've got things............................................................don't. __________________ "If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?" (Albert Einstein)

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Oct 26, 2009, 06:07 PM	#6
0mar Sturmbannführer Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,623	The baby should have never been carried to term. That's my opinion at least. I know I'd have no problems terminating such a pregnancy. __________________ "Lost are only those who abandon themselves." - Hans-Ulrich Rudel “Faith moves mountains, but only knowledge moves them to the right place” - Joseph Goebbels "The victor will never be asked if he told the truth." - Adolf Hitler

Oct 26, 2009, 06:28 PM	#7
*Lupine* Administrator Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Graham, WA Posts: 25,819	Shame. She was on Oprah not long ago and had some pretty big dreams. __________________ *How exciting for us to be living in a country that cares so much about our security, that government officials are willing to look at nude images of us to provide that safety.* In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress. - John Adams Not because of who I am, but because of what You've done ~ not because of what I've done, but because of who You are. - Casting Crowns

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Oct 26, 2009, 11:19 PM	#15
DorXtar mildly retarded Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: REPUBLI FRIENDS!!! Posts: 18,473	I think 0mar knows that he shouldn't be. He wishes his parents had used the pill. __________________ Treat the cause, not the symptom. [Honda] - Low maintenance vehicles, [H]igh maintenance people.™ KNOCKING

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Oct 27, 2009, 12:06 PM	#21
riho stupid ignorant bastard Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Estonia Posts: 4,316	Anyone started the P&R countdown already? 1 __________________ #outsiders Let an earthquake crumble it. Let the fires rage. Let it burn to ****in ash then let the waters rise and submerge this whole, rat-infested place. The less a man makes declarative statements, the less apt he is to look foolish in retrospect. If you´re frightened of dying, and fighting to hold on, you´ll see devils tearing your life away. But if you´ve made your peace, then the devils are really angels freeing you from the earth.

Oct 27, 2009, 12:51 PM	#22
KickAssCop Silent Stalker Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Lahore Posts: 11,400	Extremely unfortunate for the kid. Hope she gets a place in heaven.

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Oct 27, 2009, 05:57 PM	#23
0mar Sturmbannführer Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,623	All I'm reading is that a bunch of butt hurt people are mad because my ideology makes perfect logical sense, but it hurts their feelings. __________________ "Lost are only those who abandon themselves." - Hans-Ulrich Rudel “Faith moves mountains, but only knowledge moves them to the right place” - Joseph Goebbels "The victor will never be asked if he told the truth." - Adolf Hitler

Oct 27, 2009, 06:43 PM	#25
AluminumHaste Rage3D Veteran Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Home Posts: 6,175	I have to agree with you, it hurts me to think so coldly about a human being, but I still think she should have been passed over for those two kidney replacements, there's other people who have a much better chance of survival who could probably have used them. __________________ Because everyone knows that action oriented independant women all munch more carpet than a malfunctioning vacuum cleaner (\_/) (O.o) (> <)

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