Baby born with 12 fingers, 12 toes

16:00 AEST Sun Feb 1 2009
By ninemsn staff

Kamani Hubbard suffers from 'polydactyly'.
Doctors say the condition is common but the extra fingers are normally never fuctional, as Kamani's are.

A baby boy has been born in a US hospital with six fingers on both hands and six toes on each foot.

Kamani Hubbard was born three weeks ago with "polydactyly" — a genetic trait that leaves people with extra fingers or toes, FOX News reports.


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And while polydactyly is considered common, doctors say Kamani's fully formed and functional extra digits have made his case one-of-a-kind.

Kamani's father Kris, who had the stubs of his sixth fingers removed shortly after being born, was the first to spot his son's abnormality.

Mr Hubbard said polydactyly ran on his side of the family.

“Some family members have had six fingers [that weren't] completely developed," Mr Hubbard said.
"But not the toes."

Doctors at Saint Luke's Hospital in San Francisco where Kamani was born said there was no reason to operate.

“It's merely an interesting and beautiful variation rather than a worrisome thing,” Dr Michael Treece was quoted as saying.

“I would be tempted to leave those fingers in place.

"Imagine what sort of a pianist a 12-fingered person would be, imagine what sort of a flamenco guitarist, if nothing else think of their typing skills."

Kamani's mother Miryoki Gross said she was still trying to absorb the news.
“I heard nothing before I gave birth so I'm still in shock, kinda,” Ms Gross said.
Prenatal ultrasounds failed to show the extra fingers and toes, she said.

"[Kamani] looked so normal they couldn't tell, they told me he was six pounds in good health, that was all they said."






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I would feel so blessed......