A baby born with four legs and two spines is now recovering from reconstructive surgery after doctors removed her twin's partially deformed body.
The little girl, who is known only as Dominique, was born in the Ivory Coast just 10 months ago, and was flown to Advocate Children's Hospital in Illinois, for her opera.
"A parasitic twin is an identical twin that fails to fully separate in development," John Ruge, a paediatric neurosurgeon at the hospital, told Reuters. "In other words, not another independent twin, but a twin that was dependent on her body system, such that Dominique's heart and lungs provided the nourishment."
Five surgeons worked for a full six hours to remove the two extra legs near little Dominique's shoulders, as well as the second spine.
After spending five days in the hospital, she was released to a foster family near Chicago, who will care for her until she returns to West Africa.
"It's going rather well," Frank Vicari, a paediatric and reconstructive surgeon, "She's been home with 'step-mom' and just doing very, very well."
Dominique’s family was not identified, but her foster family told Reuters that they have been exchanging photos of her recovery.
This comes in light of even more good news, as previously conjoined twins, Jadon and Anias McDonald, are currently headed to Blythedale Children's Hospital in Westchester, New York, to receive specialised rehabilitation treatment, following their separation surgery.
The formerly conjoined twins who were separated nine weeks ago at a New York City hospital have been released from the hospital, and are on a fantastic road to recovery.
Big congratulations to all the lucky families involved in these successful operations.
