A schoolgirl is finally getting surgery to remove the two extra arms and half-formed fingers from the parasitic twin dangling from her torso removed.
Veronica Cominguez, 14, who lives in Iligan City in the Philippines, was born with two limbs and an oblong-shaped growth on her chest and stomach.
The extra parts - belonging to a parasitic twin who did not develop properly - have grown with her.
She even cleans her 'twin' and cuts its fingernails.
Veronica Cominguez was born with two limbs and an oblong-shaped growth on her torso
But Veronica is now set to live a normal life after locals raised money for her to fly to neighbouring Thailand for an operation.
'When I was little, I thought it was just a foot. But as I grew up, it became bigger,' Veronica said.
She said the parts are heavy, limit her movement and sometimes leak.
'It keeps swinging. My dress often gets wet,' she added.
Veronica's mother Flora Cominguez said their family has a history of twins.
Although she was not able to properly see a doctor during her pregnancy, she knew she was expecting twins and had even picked out name for both.
But unfortunately, Veronica's sibling did not fully develop and she has been forced to grow up with a parasitic twin.
Flora said Veronica's navel always gets wet because of the liquid that comes out of it and sometimes, the discharge has blood on it.
The 14-year-old, who lives in the Philippines, is set to undergo surgery too have the limbs removed
Veronica will fly to neighbouring Thailand for an operation after locals raised money for the procedure
'The liquid that comes out of the opening smells bad, like human excretion,' she said.
But according to Veronica's doctor, the extra limbs can be removed through a simple operation.
Dr. Beda Espineda, a pediatric surgeon at the Philippine Children's Medical Center, said: 'Most of these cases can be removed because, usually, the body structures involved are not vital.
'Most of them are just attached to the skin or bones. For surgeons, it is easy to remove.'
Veronica is described as a 'sensible, clever and mature girl.' She is pictured with her teacher Analyn Bancat Quilab (second from right) who helped organise the procedure
Now, Veronica is now waiting to have the surgery.
The local government office in her village, which has her under its welfare care system, said she is due to fly to Thailand in the coming weeks.
A spokesman from the Barangay council of Kabacsanan said: 'It has been arranged for Veronica to have an operation and we hope that she will live a normal, healthy life after this.
'Life has not been easy for her but she's a very sensible, clever and mature girl.
'She's a wonderful pupil. Everyone is very pleased for her that she can soon have an operation.'
