[5.mystline]

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 US television, has died aged 10.

Doctors had predicted she would at most only survive for days after her birth. The girl died at Maine Medical Centre on Friday afternoon, hospital spokesman John Lamb said. She had been hospitalised 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 was rushed to Maine Medical Centre on October 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.

Through the television shows, news articles, Facebook and other websites, 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."

source

[foxytoe]

truely a mermaid of the 21th century..

[smilesunwoo_]

"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."

Aww, what that little girl wrote was so sweet
And RIP Shiloh.

[Clu3less]

i was just watching her on tlc not long ago too and i thought she was doing so well. it's sad to find out she didn't make it.

rip shiloh

[dianalikesbutts]

^ i also remember watching her on tv
so sad she was a spunky girl

[CryingIvy]

^same here. I remember her crying about her condition and it made me really sad ): She really was a bright girl.

RIP SHILOH

[haruo]

it's so unfortunate that she had to leave so young, but it's inspiring in the sense that she proved doctors wrong by living far more than they had expected. ):

it's so nice that she has been the inspiration to many people, she seems like such a sweet girl.

[*aroma]

RIP SHILOH

I remember seeing her on TV too! I never thought she'd die so young I remember the first time seeing her on tv - I was SO amazed by her and just smiled throughout the whole tv segment of her.

[JunsuLove]

Oh wow.. I didn't think this would happen when I saw her on TV... I remember watching her and see that she was always so happy.. and it made me think how I wouldn't be able to handle such things and how she's definitely a very tough girl to handle it so well >_>

RIP Shiloh.

[Atmosphere.]

I saw this news on CNN.com.. but I didn't know she was 10 years old or had a leg like that. So that's what you call a mermaid syndrome. That's so sad that she had to die at such young age :T

So because of the blood circulation and the kidney problem.. she passed away from it?

[pinkrazr]

rip shiloh

what a brave little girl. i loved her smile (:

[ViVa4ever]

I watched her with Oprah and it's so sad to know she passed away! she was such a brave girl.
RIP dear Shiloh

[i_4got]

So because of the blood circulation and the kidney problem.. she passed away from it?

... I actually started recognizing your username because you always ask questions that are answered very clearly in the article itself, yet you post things that seem like you've been reading something entirely different.

Earlier this month her mother, Leslie Pepin, said her daughter came down with a cold that quickly turned to pneumonia. Shiloh was rushed to Maine Medical Centre on October 10 and was placed on antibiotics and a ventilator.

It's really sad how she proved all the doctors wrong when they predicted she would only live a few days, only to leave her parents because of a common cold. My condolences to her family. I really enjoyed watching her documentary.

[Blake]

RIP Shiloh

Losing a child is such a horrible thing, i hope her parents are ok.

[MizzprEEETy]

"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."

What a sweet 12 years old...it's a surprise since kids these days are so errrr...

RIP. I watched the documentary about her on TV a while back...It's sad...

[dorkafied!]

as if she's gone... i loved watching her on TLC
RIP Shiloh <3

[PRINCE KYARII]

"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."

awww, this is really sweet.. rest in peace to the maine girl
she was indeed a brave and bright little girl.
god bless

[fairytaIe]

R.I.P may she be able to walk in heaven.

[TICKLE ME Jx2]

=(

I've seen her story on tv a couple times.
She really was a brave little girl and I'm sad that she's gone.
RIP, Shiloh.

[Miss.Understood]

_{Man, I'm on the verge of tears. May she RIP. <3}