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8-Limbed Girl's Surgery a Success

Toddler revered as Hindu goddess stable after 27-hour operation

By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 7, 2007 6:37 AM CST
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(Newser) – Doctors successfully completed an extremely complicated 27-hour surgery on an eight-limbed Indian toddler whose village reveres her as a goddess. Lakshmi Tatma, 2, was born entangled with an incompletely developed headless twin sister. "Beyond our expectations, the reconstruction worked wonderfully well," said one of the surgeons. Doctors removed Lakshmi's two extra arms and legs, as well as excess organs, and rebuilt her pelvis.

The Bangalore hospital provided the operation for free. Lakshmi's parents are poor day laborers in northern India. Lakshmi's neighbors believe she's a reincarnation of the four-armed Hindu goddess of wealth and asked for blessings. Her parents had to hide her from circus managers who tried to buy the toddler. Her mother said she hoped Lakshmi "can lead a normal life after the operation."

Chief orthopedic surgeon Dr. Sharan Patil, heading the operation on Lakshmi, addresses the media at the Sparsh Hospital in Bangalore, India, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. The 2-year-old girl born with four arms and four legs was responding well Tuesday to the early stages of extensive surgery to remove the excess...
Chief orthopedic surgeon Dr. Sharan Patil, heading the operation on Lakshmi, addresses the media at the Sparsh Hospital in Bangalore, India, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. The 2-year-old girl born with four arms...   (Associated Press)
Dr. Sharan Patil, right, talks to Lakshmi, left, at the Sparsh Hospital in Bangalore, India, Monday, Nov. 5, 2007. Doctors began operating Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007, on Lakshmi, a two-year-old girl born with four arms and four legs, in an extensive surgery that they hope will leave the girl with...
Dr. Sharan Patil, right, talks to Lakshmi, left, at the Sparsh Hospital in Bangalore, India, Monday, Nov. 5, 2007. Doctors began operating Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007, on Lakshmi, a two-year-old girl born with...   (Associated Press)
Lakshmi, second from left, sits in her mother Poonam's lap as she poses next to with her father Shambhu and brother Mithilesh, right, at the Sparsh Hospital in Bangalore, India, Monday, Nov. 5, 2007. Doctors began operating Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007, on the two-year-old girl born with four arms and...
Lakshmi, second from left, sits in her mother Poonam's lap as she poses next to with her father Shambhu and brother Mithilesh, right, at the Sparsh Hospital in Bangalore, India, Monday, Nov. 5, 2007....   (Associated Press)
Lakshmi looks on at the Sparsh Hospital in Bangalore, India, Monday, Nov. 5, 2007. Doctors began operating Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007, on the two-year-old girl born with four arms and four legs, in an extensive surgery that they hope will leave the girl with a normal anatomy, a hospital official...
Lakshmi looks on at the Sparsh Hospital in Bangalore, India, Monday, Nov. 5, 2007. Doctors began operating Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007, on the two-year-old girl born with four arms and four legs, in an extensive...   (Associated Press)
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Lakshmi will be in intenstive care for the next 48 to 72 hours
Times of India (India)

 
India • surgery • conjoined twins • Bangalore

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