Lakshmi Tatma was born joined at the pelvis to a “parasitic twin” that stopped developing in her mother’s womb. The twin had no head or brain, said Patil, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon who led Lakshmi’s 27-hour operation, but Lakshmi absorbed the twin’s limbs, kidneys and other body parts.
“There was a high risk of losing the baby,” but the surgery had to be done, Patil said.
National Geographic has documented Lakshmi’s story, which will be featured on TV at 9 p.m. Sunday, June 22.