Shiloh Pepin was born in 1999; she was born with Sirenomelia, also known as Mermaid Syndrome. Sirenomelia is a very rare congenital deformity in which the legs are fused together from the waist. This condition is found in approximately one out of 100.000 live births, it is usually fatal within a day or two of birth (Wikipedia). In all medical records, only 4-8 cases can be described as Mermaid Syndrome. Yet, Shiloh was the only one who couldn't have surgery, because of her kidney failure; therefore, she was the only living mermaid. "Feels pretty good" Shiloh says (TV show, Extraordniary People).
Shiloh had no rectum, no genitalia, no uterus, no bladder, and only one quarter of a kidney. When Shiloh turned 4 months old, her kidney failed. After that, she was on dialysis. At the age of 2, Shiloh had a kidney transplant that lasted a number of years. And in 2007, a second kidney transplant was successful. She was born without openings to excrete urine or feces; therefore, openings had to be made. Her excretions were collected through bags attached to her body where the openings were made.
Elmer Pepin, Shiloh's father, quitted his job to take of her for 24/7, while Leslie Pepin, Shiloh's mom, had to work. Shiloh needed constant medical care; she has been going to the medical center since her birth.
Twice a day, Shiloh must consume a complex cocktail of nine different drugs, to keep her from getting infections. She never got used to the taste.
Leslie (Shiloh's mother) questions the decision of giving birth to Shiloh; she knew that even if Shiloh lived for long, she will suffer each and every day. "It's too hard for her, and I was selfish" Leslie says.
At the time she was 8 years old, Shiloh had over 150 medical procedures. "All this time I've been sick, I just can't take it anymore" she says. She suffered from obesity, due to that she had trouble in mobility. "I'm sorry" says Shiloh when she was weighted at the hospital. Dr. Matt Hand, Shiloh's doctor since birth, ordered a serious diet for Shiloh. Shiloh hated the diet to the extent.
As time went by, adipose tissues settled on the sides of Shiloh's legs, which made mobility very hard for Shiloh. For that, she was depending on one hand to sit straight. The leg separation procedure was dangerous because of two main reasons, Shiloh's kidney was weak, and the blood vessels are confused irregularly from her waist to the bottom of her feet.
The body has always been a broad and dense subject to study, and by the end of the twentieth century the body had become a significant theme of political, social, cultural and economic values; whereas the body has emerged in the most recent years as problematic in society . In modern society the representation of the ‘perfect’ and ‘healthy’ body have become a mainstream ideology where body issues are everywhere particularly for the young adult female and pre-adolescent girls, for they are always