Milagros Cerron

Milagros Cerron, who has fused legs but separated feet, is one of three known children in the world with the condition, doctors say.

A team of doctors will attempt to free her legs from each other Feb. 24 at a public hospital in Lima, said surgeon Luis Rubio on Feb. 3.

The girl was born in the mountain city of Huancayo, 200 km east of the capital. The deformity occurs in one out of every 70,000 births.

Most of the children born with this condition survive no more than several days because of defects to their internal organs, Rubio said.

Although most of Milagros' internal organs are fine she has just one kidney. None of her major organs will be part of the operation, Rubio said.

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 12, 2005
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