8 year old boy becomes first child in the world to receive a double-hand transplant.
An eight year old boy has become the very first child in the world to receive a successful double-hand transplant.
Zion Harvey suffered from a serious bacterial infection when he was am toddler and his hands and feet had to be amputated.
He was very happy and optimistic after going through surgery and had plans to throw football, climb monkey bars and hold his baby sister. Sky News reported.
According to Sky News, a 40-person surgical team used steel screws and plates to fuse together Zion’s old and new bones before delicately reconnecting his muscles, nerves, tendons, veins and arteries.
After several weeks on physical therapy the doctors said he would be able to pick up smaller objects like Cheerios and Legos.
Before his transplant, Harvey was able to feed himself and play video games as well.
The boy is now required to take drugs which suppress the immune system for the rest of his life to ensure his body does not reject his new limbs.
Doctors believed he was an ideal candidate for the operation because of how he was already taking the anti-rejection drugs for a kidney transplant.
Dr L Scott Levin described Zion as an “incredible little boy”, adding: “This is a huge step forward in worldwide transplantation.” Sky News reported.
