HM International Blog

operated upon two-year-old Lakshmi — a conjoined twin.

A beaming team of doctors headed by Dr Sharan Shivraj Patil announced on Wednesday morning that the 27-hour-long surgery had been completed and Lakshmi was safe now. The doctor was, however, quick to add that she was still under observation.

One of the twins is headless and has two pairs of arms and legs. The villagers offered to build a temple in her name and there was also a circus company, which had offered the parents a lot of money, if they gave her to them.
Lakshmi’s father Shambu said this was the biggest Diwali gift. “Lakshmi was born two years ago on Diwali and this year, she is okay. What more can I ask for,” Shambu said.

Dr Patil said doctors were very excited and did not intend to go home for the next two days. The biggest challenge was to maintain stability in the child while the operation was being performed, he said, adding that another achievement was that they did not jeoparadise any aspect of Lakshmi during the operation.

his is a rare condition and such surgeries take place only once in 50,000 cases. There have been similar cases in the past, but the success rate has been negligible.