Shiloh Pepin, a girl who was born with a very rare condition called sirenomeila or ‘mermaid syndrome’ died at a hospital in Maine at the age of 10 after being in the hospital since last week.

Shiloh came down with a cold in the beginning of October that turned in pneumonia.

On October 10, she was taken to the hospital for treatment and placed on antibiotics and a ventilator.

Pepin proved predictions the of doctors wrong by living as long as she did.

She was born without genital organs or a lower colon and only one part of a kidney was working. Doctors believed she would only live a few hours, maybe even a few days. She defeated these old by living an entire decade.

There have been children survive this condition with the surgery to separate their legs, but Shiloh’s circulatory system made surgery very challenging.

Shiloh lived every day with great zest; her quality of life was good.

It did not matter to her what she was doing, a big event or staying at home with her dad.

She was only one in a handful of people in history to live longer than a year with her condition.

Portland, Maine -  “Mermaid Girl” Shiloh Pepin, who was born with her legs fused together, has died at the age of 10.

Shiloh was born with a condition called sirenomelia, sometimes called “mermaid syndrome.” The condition is caused by decreased blood flow from the lower aorta during pregnancy.

In addition to having both legs fused together, she had no lower colon or genital organs, and only one kidney.

Sometimes, surgery can separate the legs of a child with sirenomelia. Shiloh could not have this surgery, since it would have cut open blood vessels that connected the legs. When she was born, doctors predicted that she would only survive for a few days.

She required two kidney transplants during her lifetime. She was admitted to the hospital for the last time on October 10, after a severe cold turned into pneumonia.

Shiloh has inspired many through news articles, Facebook, and other web sites. She has been on many television programs, including recent appearances on The Learning Channel and “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

She was a fifth grade student at Kennebunkport Consolidated School. School district chairwoman Maureen King described her as a “shining personality,” and arranged for counselors to talk to students next week.