A baby was born (click for photos) on Tuesday with an extra finger on each hand and an extra toe on each foot. But what shocked us about the story was the statistic that one in 2,000 babies (and one in 200 African-American babies) is born with an extra finger or toe. WHERE ARE ALL THESE EXTRA DIGITS? We've seen, like, two, ever. We see the removal of these extra toes and fingers as a classic example of how difference is repressed in our society. It's tragic, is what it is.But we've wasted all our indignation on the odious Tucker Carlson, so we'll just give you something to do when you get stumped with the Friday crossword puzzle: in its coverage, the Washington Post went with the groan-worthy lede "Something was different about newborn Jeshuah Fuller, but his proud parents couldn't quite put their finger on it." We bet any of you could come up with a better pun than that. Step to it.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. i wuz born with 12 inches dont cha no!!! and jennifer aniston aint be showing up either!!!
mike odonnell at 1:46AM on Aug 31st 2007
2. The baby had "an extra finger on each hand an an extra toe on each FINGER"?
pattibarrett753 at 2:03AM on Aug 31st 2007
3. I didn't know that America was anti-extra finger and/or toe. There should be a group lobbying for people like this. I mean, their rights are probably being violated right now, and nobody is making money off of it. What a nightmare for America!
David at 2:39AM on Aug 31st 2007
4. An extra toe on each finger?!?!? This is incredible. Can you post pictures, please?
mung at 6:21AM on Aug 31st 2007
5. WHY ARE WE SO GUNHOE TO BE SURPRISED? THERE IS CIRCUMSIONS RIGHT? AND IT IS A HEALTHIER WAY TO EXIST FOR MALES!! I WISH I WAS CIRCUSIZED AS A CHILD
GEEEMARSH at 8:31AM on Aug 31st 2007
6. to:ADA......what would you do if you were born with extra fingers and extra "toes on fingers".what will you do if you had a child born this way? it's going to be hard to find shoes for extra "toes on fingers". do you really get paid for this kind of crap?
claudia at 8:33AM on Sep 2nd 2007
7. Headline: Four Thumbs Up For Fuller Family
brent at 3:25PM on Aug 31st 2007
8. I saw the photo of the baby's foot and hand. Which fingers and toes are to be removed? They all look healthy to me and if you don't count them, you wouldn't notice the difference. Bless his heart.
Faye at 10:56AM on Aug 31st 2007
9. Does that mean we need to have 'new math' again???
Home Grown American at 11:15AM on Aug 31st 2007
10. Hmmm, wonder how long until the Bush Bashers attempt to attach blame for this to GW?
charlieofthepcu at 11:46AM on Aug 31st 2007
11. Proposed lead:
Jeshuah Fuller's parents knew that having a baby would change their lives, but little Jeshuah turned out to be more of a "handfull" than they ever expected.
Regarding the reaction against removal of these appendages, the article says:
"The extra digits serve no function... They usually occur outside of the pinky or little toe, lack bone and don't extend into the wrist or foot."
Even though they look like fingers & toes, they are just fleshy growths with no motor control. I expect they would be a constant impediment to the simplest of maneuvers (like the instinctive tucking-in of your toes to put on shoes & socks).
Pete at 1:56PM on Aug 31st 2007
12. I've personally met three people born with extra digits, and all they had left in their adult lives were dainty little x-shaped scars on the outer edges of their hands and feet to indicate the removal. I think it's perfectly acceptable for a parent to want any extra digits removed since 1) they aren't always fully-functioning digits and may be missing nerves, tendons, bones, etc., and 2) kids are cruel enough to each other as it is. In a perfect world, everyone born as a 12/12 would be accepted without a batted eye, but c'mon people - adult acne, obesity, and crooked teeth are very common, and yet are still severely scorned.
I don't know why this is even news: it happens very frequently. I'd call the story "Congratulations: It's a boy!"
lin at 3:58PM on Aug 31st 2007
13. Thank you for all of the comments. To answer the poster's question, what would you do if your child had extra digits? I can give you the answer easily, as my wife just gave birth to a lovely boy today here in Japan, he has one extra toe on his right foot. Our opinion is that unless there is a medical reason to remove it, we think it should stay. I found this page, as I am searching for medical reasons that parents/doctors might choose to remove an extra toe/finger, for example if there is evidence that it may hinder growth of his foot or other toes. Thank you again, for all of your comments, at least most of them.
Hugo at 1:18PM on Sep 4th 2007