“Some people are the same and some people are different,”  said Shiloh Pepin, aka Mermaid Girl, who was different, alright. She said a lot of profound things for a little girl with a flipper. I have been following Shiloh’s story for the last two years as a series of TLC documentaries captured her swimming ahead in spite of the many challenges she faced as one of three known people living with Mermaid Syndrome. I think the moment I fell in love with her was when she was being fitted for a custom wet suit and she turned to a woman in the shop and shouted jubilantly, “I’m a mermaid!” “Yes!” I thought. I’m a mermaid, too! Just without a flipper. I am awkward, unsure, and fumbling through life—we all are. But Shiloh was able to embrace ... no, own, her challenges in a way that I am envious of. For that, the little mermaid will always in inspire me.

Heartbreaking news: Shiloh Pepin, the 10-year-old girl who was born with a rare condition commonly known as “mermaid syndrome,” passed away this weekend. I first learned about Shiloh by watching a special on Discovery Health about her life and was blown away by her spirit. Her condition, “sirenomelia,” caused her to be born with her legs fused together—she had no colon or genital organs and only one partially working kidney. Still, Shiloh was full of life and never seemed to feel sorry for herself, despite her daily struggles. May she rest in peace. [AP]