Peru’s ‘miracle baby’ doing well after surgery

Dr. Luis Rubio, head of a team of surgeons who operated on Milagros Cerron in June, looked on proudly as the vivacious, bright-eyed 19-month-old girl played to the cameras.

Milagros, whose name means "miracles" in Spanish, was born with a rare congenital defect known as sirenomelia, or "mermaid syndrome."

Her successful operation in June captured the interest of the world.

Affectionately called "the little mermaid" by Peruvians, Milagros was dressed in a pair of tiny blue jeans as she played among dozens of brightly coloured plastic balls.

Rubio said he was pleased with the progress Milagros had made, but cautioned that she still needed 10 to 15 years of rehabilitation and more operations before she could lead a normal life.

She has been attempting to stand up, Rubio said, but is unable to maintain stability because she has no sockets for her hip bones.

"The girl tries to stand up. She wants to stand up, despite not having a perfectly formed socket," he said.

The lack of sockets poses one of the biggest challenges for the doctors, who will have to determine what would be the best age to attempt reconstructive surgery, he said.

He said the separation of her lower limbs had allowed doctors to maintain muscle tone and volume in her legs.

Initially after the operation, he had said he hoped to see her walking within two years, but on Tuesday he was cautious about making predictions.

"I dream of that day. Time will tell. We are going to do everything humanly possible to conclude what nature has not finished," he said, referring to the hipbone sockets.

Milagros has grown considerably in six months but is still small for her age, Rubio said.

She measures 28 inches and weighs 21.8 pounds, but a normal child of her age would measure 34 inches and weigh 26.4 pounds, he said.