Girl Born With 8 Limbs Awake and Smiling

Indian toddler regains consciousness, wiggles toes
By Zach Samalin,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 9, 2007 4:16 PM CST
Girl Born With 8 Limbs Awake and Smiling
This undated computed axial tomography (CT scan) provided on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007, by the Sparsh Hospital shows 2-year-old Lakshmi before she underwent surgery in Bangalore, India. (AP Photo/Sparsh Hospital)   (Associated Press)

Two days after surgery to remove her extra arms, legs, and organs, 2-year old Lakshmi regained consciousness in a Bangalore hospital today and gave the first tentative signs that she's on her way to recovery. She even smiled at her parents and wiggled her toes, the AP reports. Doctors took her off a respirator and say they will keep close watch for at least another 24 hours.

"Lakshmi appeared very perplexed and kept staring at her legs, wondering where the rest of her body had disappeared," the chief surgeon said. A hospital spokeswoman said the girl, born with eight limbs, was doing well but would need more surgery before she can walk. "I have just these doctors to thank for this miracle," said Lakshmi's dad. "It is a debt I could never repay." (More Lakshmi stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X