Kyla Thomas- Risky surgery separates 10-month-old from parasitic twin

Summary: This article is about a small infant child, Dominique, who was born with a parasitic twin. Before the removal surgery, Dominique had her parasitic twin's waist, legs and feet growing out of her back. Dominique was also born with two spines that were closely connected. On a good note, there was a family who could help Dominique get the surgery that she needed to survive. The Swabb family gladly welcomed Dominique in their home and took her in as their own. "Baby Dominique is so affectionate and receives love so well, so we knew right away that she comes from a loving family," Swabb said. "She's bubbly, funny, spirited, full of smiles, and has the brightest, happy eyes." The surgery process was described as very complex and it required 5 surgeons and over 50 physicians to remove the excess limbs. In the end Dominque recovered well and she was even sitting up and sticking her tongue out the next day. The Swabb family said that they are really looking forward to Dominique seeing her blood family very soon.

Analysis: This story is very heart-warming. In the United States or in the world period, parasitic twins are not very common which makes this case so worthy of writing about. I am overjoyed that the child made it out alive and I am extremely happy that such a compassionate family, such as the Swabb family, were kind enough to care for a child that was not biologically their own. In relation to history, this story reminds me of the Zika virus outbreak, which was first identified in a Ugandan forest in 1947. These stories are similar in the fact that they both effected newborn babies. Although scientist are now discovering was that the Zika virus to be cured, there has not yet been a discovery of a cure for a birth defect such as a parasitic twin.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/21/health/parasitic-twin-surgery-removes-extra-limbs/?iid=ob_homepage_deskrecommended_pool