In 1999, Shiloh Pepin was born in Kennebunkport, Maine with sirenomelia, one of the rarest deformities known to mankind. She had no lower colon or genital organs and only one working kidney. The most glaring symptom were her legs, which were fused from the waist down like a mermaid tail, hence the condition's nickname of "mermaid syndrome." Shiloh had to lean to one side when she sat up.
After Shiloh was born, doctors told her parents she would only survive for about 10 days — but the "tough little thing" beat all odds stacked against her from the start.
While many people born with sirenomelia survive by having their legs surgically separated, Shiloh couldn't undergo the procedure; the blood vessels in her circulatory system would have been severed. However, Shiloh was comfortable in her skin and said she didn't want her legs separated.
By the time Shiloh was in fifth-grade, the little girl with a "shining personality" had gained worldwide infamy. Her story was featured on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and a TLC documentary and she inspired so many people in the medical community and beyond.
In October 2010, Shiloh passed away at the age of 10 after a bout of pneumonia. In the short documentary below, viewers get a glimpse into her home life with her incredible parents. It's amazing to watch her swimming in the water, where she always felt the most comfortable.
