Baby born with 12 fingers, 12 toes...all fully formed and functioning!

DreamfulSpirit · #1 02-01-2009, 08:45 PM

This just looks so weird to me!

http://news.aol.com/article/baby-12-fingers-toes/324588

HotDamnImAPhiMu · #2 02-01-2009, 08:53 PM

I used to babysit for a family of five boys. All five were born with a sixth finger on their left hands. The parents had the extra finger removed while they were still at the hospital.

I always wonder, in cases like this. Is this kid going to grow up and resent mom and dad for amputating something unique and special about him? Or is the kid going to grow up and resent mom and dad for letting him go through school getting teased for having 6 digits?

I did Civil Air Patrol with a girl whose leg was amputated above the knee. She had a prosthetic leg. When she was born, she had clubfoot, so her parents were faced with the decision to either amputate or let her grow up with a malformed, not very functional left leg.

I just don't know how parents make decisions like this for their kids (decisions that the kids should be making for themselves... if they weren't kids.) That's got to be so hard to imagine your child as an adult and then imagine what his/her preference would've been.

IlovemyAKA · #3 02-01-2009, 09:04 PM

The doctor who spoke said that the child could have phenomenal typing skills. I would imagine that 6 digits could be a hindrance when typing. Think of how the home row keys are designed.

RU OX Alum · #4 02-01-2009, 09:06 PM

If they aren't functional I could see where removing them would be fine, but like the doctor said, he could be amazing at pretty much any musical instrument, plus, his work, so that's like chopping off some one's finger.

And I remember reading somewhere that that is actually the dominant gene, it's just really rare.

SWTXBelle · #5 02-01-2009, 09:06 PM

You do the best you can with the knowledge you have, and hope that your children will understand that some day. Most "extra" digits aren't functional, so that would make the decision easier, I would think. The whole circumcise/don't circumcise thing is a headache - there really are some embittered men out there!

RU OX Alum · #6 02-01-2009, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IlovemyAKA

The doctor who spoke said that the child could have phenomenal typing skills. I would imagine that 6 digits could be a hindrance when typing. Think of how the home row keys are designed.

he'd have easier access to the comma

HotDamnImAPhiMu · #7 02-01-2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

but like the doctor said, he could be amazing at pretty much any musical instrument, plus, his work, so that's like chopping off some one's finger.

I actually don't think this is a valid argument.

As ILoveMyAKA pointed out, the home keys on a QWERTY keyboard are set up for four fingers plus the thumb. There isn't room for a fifth finger. On the left hand, that finger would be over the caps lock key! And how would the poor kid even learn to type? Normal typing classes are set up for five fingered people - remember the color coding? And who would come up with a way to type with six fingers so they could teach the kid?

For a musical instrument, I know at least the guitar and piano beginners' books are all numbered for the fingers, 1 through 4. That's just how they're taught. And it wouldn't help to have a sixth finger for the strings or the brass instruments.

I just think this kid would end up feeling very, very different and left out if he keeps the sixth finger. Can you imagine how you'd feel if a girl recoiled when she saw your hands? I think a lot of people would be creeped out, at least initially. Or - this is silly - what about gloves? Would the kid be more likely to have carpal tunnel, since there's more muscles and tendons to be irritated? If the kid got to be 30 and decided he wanted the extra digits removed, could he do it? Would he be able to find a doctor who would agree to remove fingers that had been fully functional for 30 years? Would the recovery time take forever, and would he need live-in help for that time since you can't do ANYTHING without your hands?

And his toes. He'd have to look for special shoes with a huge toe box. He couldn't ever wear sandals because people would stare and make him feel uncomfortable. He'd feel bad at the beach when he was unavoidably barefoot and his sixth toes are on display and suddenly that's what everyone's talking about.

I think they should remove the extra digits.

UGAalum94 · #8 02-01-2009, 09:54 PM

I think the kid will be fine.

I also want to note that his extra fingers and toes don't make him nearly as freaky as the St. Luke's pediatrician featured in the video who seems to think style-wise he's living in the 1860s.

HotDamnImAPhiMu · #9 02-01-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

I also want to note that his extra fingers and toes don't make him nearly as freaky as the St. Luke's pediatrician featured in the video who seems to think style-wise he's living in the 1860s.

Snort.

epchick · #10 02-01-2009, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

As ILoveMyAKA pointed out, the home keys on a QWERTY keyboard are set up for four fingers plus the thumb. There isn't room for a fifth finger. On the left hand, that finger would be over the caps lock key! And how would the poor kid even learn to type? Normal typing classes are set up for five fingered people - remember the color coding? And who would come up with a way to type with six fingers so they could teach the kid?

I think this is making it a bigger deal than it really is. The kid has one extra finger on each hand, so he'll figure out how to type...maybe he'll just shift his hand down one key (so like his index finger will be on the G & H keys instead of the F & J).

I don't know many people who type correctly anyways.

Thetagirl218 · #11 02-01-2009, 11:37 PM

If the digits are fully functioning, I don't see a reason for removing them. The child will learn to adapt just like those without digits learn to adapt. One of the students at my school only has three fingers, and while it was difficult, she has adapted and does many things people said she could never do such as be a star volleyball player.

Personally, I have two knuckle bones missing in each hand which has added to some early arthritis and discomfort. I believe that even if you are different, you can still fit in.

HotDamnImAPhiMu · #12 02-01-2009, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epchick

I don't know many people who type correctly anyways.

Seriously?? I only know one or two people that don't.

preciousjeni · #13 02-02-2009, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

I actually don't think this is a valid argument.

As ILoveMyAKA pointed out, the home keys on a QWERTY keyboard are set up for four fingers plus the thumb. There isn't room for a fifth finger. On the left hand, that finger would be over the caps lock key! And how would the poor kid even learn to type? Normal typing classes are set up for five fingered people - remember the color coding? And who would come up with a way to type with six fingers so they could teach the kid?

For a musical instrument, I know at least the guitar and piano beginners' books are all numbered for the fingers, 1 through 4. That's just how they're taught. And it wouldn't help to have a sixth finger for the strings or the brass instruments.

I just think this kid would end up feeling very, very different and left out if he keeps the sixth finger. Can you imagine how you'd feel if a girl recoiled when she saw your hands? I think a lot of people would be creeped out, at least initially. Or - this is silly - what about gloves? Would the kid be more likely to have carpal tunnel, since there's more muscles and tendons to be irritated? If the kid got to be 30 and decided he wanted the extra digits removed, could he do it? Would he be able to find a doctor who would agree to remove fingers that had been fully functional for 30 years? Would the recovery time take forever, and would he need live-in help for that time since you can't do ANYTHING without your hands?

And his toes. He'd have to look for special shoes with a huge toe box. He couldn't ever wear sandals because people would stare and make him feel uncomfortable. He'd feel bad at the beach when he was unavoidably barefoot and his sixth toes are on display and suddenly that's what everyone's talking about.

I think they should remove the extra digits.

The majority of your reasons have to do with self-esteem. I don't believe that's a good enough reason if, in fact, the extra digits could be useful and are fully functional (and they are).

fantASTic · #14 02-02-2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

Seriously?? I only know one or two people that don't.

Same. Everyone I know that is my age (in college) know how to touch type. The people who do the "point and type" are the ones my parents' age.

IlovemyAKA · #15 02-02-2009, 12:48 AM

His hands are "cute" as an infant. They'll look more weird as adult hands. I wouldn't be able to decide on the leave them or not debate unless I was in that situation. I'd be more prone to leave them because they are functioning, but I also know how cruel kids (& some adults) can be. I just didn't agree with the doctor's assessment that the extra digits would mean advantages in typing or music as HotdamnImaPhiMu said.