Baby has dead twin removed from stomach thanks to Red Cross appeal

October 31, 2009 by Baby Chums
Filed under: Baby Health, News, Weird

A Chinese Baby has had her dead twin removed from her stomach. The Red Cross were able to save the life of Kang Mengru in a condition that effects 1 in 500,000 births called Fetus in Fetu.

At first Kang’s parents couldn’t fathom why their daughter’s stomach was growing larger, almost overnight and were concerned it was a tumour. Kang, from Henan Provence, was unable to eat solid food and suffered in constant pain.

Neighbours had labelled the baby a, “monster” with a belly that made her look pregnant.

However, after medical examination, doctors discovered that she had a rare condition, Fetus in Fetu. This occurs when an identical twin somehow gets absorbed into the body of its twin and continues to grow by initially sharing the placenta with its twin and then becoming a parasite that lives off its twin host by using the host’s body to sustain its growth.

Initially her impoverished parents couldn’t afford the operation; however, help arrived in the form of the Red Cross who raised the funds for Kang through an appeal.

After a 10-hour operation, Kang is now recovering well and will be able to live a normal life.

Her mother said: “She doesn’t understand what has happened to her. But she is happy.

“She still has her womb and ovaries, so one day she will be able to have children of her own.”