18th August, 2015
An eight-year-old boy, Zion Harvey, who lost his hands and feet at the age of two due to a serious infection, has become the world’s first child double-hand transplant recipient.
Dr. L. Levin, Chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, at Penn Medicine and Director of the hand Transplantation programme at Philadelphia Children’s Hospital, disclosed this on Tuesday.
He said the boy, from Baltimore suburb of Owings Mills, Maryland, went through a 10-hour surgery involving a 40-member team of nurses, doctors and surgeons.
Levin, who led the team, said Zion already could move and flex his new thumbs and fingers, and was taking part in rehab to regain further dexterity.
“Zion and his mother Pattie Ray were both excited about the modern miracle, considering the 10-hour surgery as a dream come true.
“Zion said he can’t wait to hold his sister by using his new hands.
“My favorite thing is to wait for her to run into my hands as I pick her up and spin her around,” he said