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Baby born with extra legs thriving after surgery

Baby born with extra legs thriving after surgery | iNFOnews.ca
Pediatric neurosurgeon John R. Ruge, MD, describes the surgery during a news conference, Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at Advocate Children's Hospital in Park Ridge, Ill. Ten-month-old Dominique was born in the Ivory Coast with a parasitic conjoined twin. The bottom half of the not-fully-developed twin's body protruded from her neck and back until last week's operation. (AP Photo/Teresa Crawford)

PARK RIDGE, Ill. – Doctors say a baby girl from Africa who’s recovering from a risky surgery at a Chicago-area hospital should be able to lead a normal life.

Ten-month-old Dominique was born in the Ivory Coast with a not-fully-developed conjoined twin. Doctors performed surgery on March 8 to remove two legs and a second spine that protruded from her back.

More than 50 doctors and nurses are now caring for her at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. Her foster mother, Nancy Swabb of Chicago, says her family learned about Dominique on social media and knew instantly they wanted to help.

Swabb says Dominique can now sit up, raise her hands and reach for things, which she couldn’t do before. She’ll eventually return to her family in west Africa.

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Abbey Westbury

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