Tuesday, April 8, 2008

And Baby Makes Four

On March 11, 2008, Lali Singh entered the world with two faces. The baby is doing fine, blinking both sets of eyes, and crying and nursing from both mouths.

Her parents, Vinod and Sushma Singh, live in the north Indian village of Saini Sunpura, where Lali's arrival is being celebrated as the reincarnation of the Hindu goddess of valor, Durga.

And this, I think, is a blessing. Born anywhere else, Lali's arrival might have been an occasion for shock and horror. In a country like the U.S., her parents may have even decided not to go through with the delivery.

I post this because this type of thing fascinates me. I was born into a normal body, and know how difficult life can be for someone with all the right parts in all the right places. I can't imagine what those born into a different kind of body feel or think or experience. But I believe they all have amazing stories to tell.

I'd love to follow this one in the years to come. To discover if there's one person or two inside Lali's remarkable head. To learn if both mouths will learn to speak, and what they'll have to say. To find out just what Lali's life is going to be like.

I wish her well.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

I read this article this morning and it still is mind boggling. Crazy, crazy stuff.

C. Michael Cook said...

Yeah -- I hope she grows up a very happy person.

Michelle Gallagher said...

wow Love this post! I agree, must be quite something to live in a body like this!

John Hornor said...

You know what's amazing? She's a cutie. I love the little dimple where her faces meet.

CMC, you know I'm just some dumb country boy, but when I hear about people like her, I realize, in the Buddhist tradition, that flesh is like a flame, burning us up with instinct and a false sense of persistence. She will grow and live as only she can. She might die young and I'll grieve. But at least she lives now.

Jobove - Reus said...

very good blog, congratulations
regard from Catalonia Spain
thank you