<div><p>Nicknamed <em>the Little Mermaid</em>, this little girl is nothing short of a miracle. </p><p>In 2004, Milagros Cerron was born with her legs fused from the groin to ankles and her feet splayed, looking like a mermaid at first glance. </p><p>Most of her internal organs, including her heart and lungs were in perfect condition.</p><p>The lower area of her body had serious internal defects including a deformed left kidney and a very small right kidney. </p><p>Her digestive, urinary tracts and genitals also shared a single tube. </p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/Mermaid-Girl-3.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/Mermaid-Girl-3_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/Mermaid-Girl-3_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/Mermaid-Girl-3_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></figure></div><p>In June 2005, doctors successfully performed the first in a series of high-risk operations to separate her lower legs above her knees. </p><div><figure><a href="BBC" target="_blank"><amp-anim src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/_40931775_mermaid_416.gif" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-anim></a></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>In 2006 when she was just 2-years-old a team of 8 doctors successfully carried out a second operation that separated the remaining fused tissue from her knees to her groin. </p><p>Surgeon Luis Rubio, who led the specialists, <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3569376/The-real-life-MERMAID-Heartbreaking-pictures-baby-born-deadly-condition-legs-fuse-womb.html">said</a> after the second surgery, "There were no problems, no complications from anaesthesia or from haemorraghing."</p><div><figure><a href="http://acidcow.com/pics/page,1,2,9384-the-story-of-little-mermaid-girl-24-pics.html" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the_story_of_little_mermaid_girl_09.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the_story_of_little_mermaid_girl_09_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the_story_of_little_mermaid_girl_09_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://acidcow.com/pics/page,1,2,9384-the-story-of-little-mermaid-girl-24-pics.html" target="_blank">Acid Cow</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>After the second surgery she had developed the ability to stand alone without help and take small assisted steps. </p><div><figure><a href="http://acidcow.com/pics/page,1,2,9384-the-story-of-little-mermaid-girl-24-pics.html" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the_story_of_little_mermaid_girl_20.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the_story_of_little_mermaid_girl_20_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/the_story_of_little_mermaid_girl_20_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://acidcow.com/pics/page,1,2,9384-the-story-of-little-mermaid-girl-24-pics.html" target="_blank">Acid Cow</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>In 2008, Milagros walked to her first day of kindergarten and everyone couldn't be prouder.</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/download-8.jpg" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Acid Cow</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>"We never thought she would go to school," <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-peru-mermaid-idUSN0622925720080306">said Dr. Luis Rubio</a>, one of the surgeons who have cared for her since infancy. "Normally babies like her die within 72 hours of birth."</p><p>Milagros is thought to be only 1 of just 3 survivors of the disorder in the world at the time. </p><p>In 2012 the then 7-year-old needed a kidney transplant, part of the surgery required to reconstruct her urinary tract. </p><p>After years of surgery and therapy, Milagros is finally walking like a normal child and doing well. She may require 3 or 4 more surgeries to correct her bowing feet and sexual organs, but these need to wait until she is at least 18 years old. </p><div><figure><a href="http://disturbreality.ilyke.com/article/the-inspirational-story-of-the--little-mermaid--girl/69634/?pid=2" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/69634-large-235140.jpg" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://disturbreality.ilyke.com/article/the-inspirational-story-of-the--little-mermaid--girl/69634/?pid=2" target="_blank">iLyke</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>"She's a very happy child who likes to play with her friends," <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-peru-mermaid-idUSN0622925720080306">said Ricardo Cerron</a>, her father.</p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>In 1988 Tiffany Yorks underwent surgery to separate her legs before her first birthday. Due to fragile bones she used crutches and a wheelchair to get around. At the age of 27, she was the oldest known survivor suffering from this condition until she passed away in February of last year. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p></div>