A baby has had four of the six legs he was born with successfully removed, surgeons have announced.
The little boy, born in Sukkur, a city in Sindh Province earlier this month, underwent eight hours of surgery at Pakistan’s National Institute of Child Health (NICH), in Karachi.
On Thursday Dr Jamal Raza announced the operation had been a success. He told a press conference the extra limbs had been the result of a genetic disease which affects just one in a million babies.
There had been speculation the child’s condition was due to the presence of a conjoined twin.
The youngster was taken into the hospital’s care after his poverty-stricken father Imran Sheikh appealed for help.
Following the surgery, Mr Sheikh told the media: “We are a poor family. I am thankful to the government for helping us treating my baby."
Gynaecologist and President of the Pakistan Medical Association, Dr Samrina Hashmi, told the South Asian News Agency the baby's abnormalities could have been caused by several factors, including improper medicines taken by his mother during pregnancy and contaminated water.
“In every 10,000 child births one baby is born with an abnormality such as a hole in the heart,” she said.
“Then there is a possibility that several eggs were fertilised instead of one,” she said.
Before the surgery, Mr Sheikh had issued a direct appeal to the government, stating: “I can’t afford to visit Karachi and get treatment for my baby.
“I appeal to philanthropists and the government to come forward for the treatment.”
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A baby has had four of the six legs he was born with successfully removed, surgeons have announced.
The little boy, born in Sukkur, a city in Sindh Province earlier this month, underwent eight hou...
A baby has had four of the six legs he was born with successfully removed, surgeons have announced.
The little boy, born in Sukkur, a city in Sindh Province earlier this month, underwent eight hou...
What is so sad is the lack of empathy from so many people. This is an innocent baby born with a genetic defect. Please those who are posting pathetic insensitive comments know that normal people don't really think they are funny. Have some compassion for others. Keep your frat house humor to yourself.
redruby1941: What is so sad is the lack of empathy from
but true
You don't remember the story from last year about the baby born with extra limbs and people travelled to see the baby since they thought she was the reincarnation of the many limbed god.
Susan_Shaffer: but true You don't remember the story from last year
Thank God his parents were good decent people, who asked for help. Too many others would have been tempted to sell tickets and let their son endure a life as a circus freak-show member, just to make a bit of money. Well done them I say, for using the publicity in a positive manner.
(Something a few D-List so called celebrities could learn in this country.)
Nathan0316: Thank God his parents were good decent people, who asked
To the mean people. Santorum has a daughter with a birth defect (Edwards Syndrome or Trisomy 18), and Palin's son Trig has Down's Syndrome. So don't be too quick with your judgmental comments. We are all at risk.
Matrix1984: To the mean people. Santorum has a daughter with a
I am assuming that they used x-rays to determine which legs would be the most functional. I've seen documentaries about situations like this, so I'm just guessing.
Matrix1984: I am assuming that they used x-rays to determine which
How did they take the correct legs?
I would think that an x-ray would clearly show which legs were attached properly to the spine, and which were wrong....you can see from the photo( I think ) that the larger ones that seem in the right place for a baby, under the odd looking ones, would appear to be the 'real' legs. Hope the little lad grows O.K. now.
Tobypaws: How did they take the correct legs? I would think
Jesus Christ. What the hell is it going to take. The world pollution did this to him. Why can't we just clean up the earth before polluting space and beyond?
Akamat_Hopkins: Jesus Christ. What the hell is it going to take.
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Huffington Post UK | By Sara C Nelson Posted: 20/04/2012 11:07 Updated: 20/04/2012 12:45