A US man spoke Friday of his happiness at the prospect of touching his young grandchildren for the first time, following a rare double hand transplant at a Boston hospital. Richard Mangino, 65, lost his arms below the elbows and his lower legs from an infection in 2002. After a 12-hour operation by a 40-strong surgical team at Brigham and Women's Hospital - best known for pioneering face transplants - he got donated hands.
In his first remarks, he thanked the family of the donor. "My family and I grieve for the loss of your loved one. I am humbled and overwhelmed with emotion. Thank you for this incredible gift," he said in a statement. But Mangino said his main emotion now was happiness at the prospect of regaining a more normal life and, above all, the ability to play with his grandchildren. "The one miracle I have prayed for, since my oldest grandson Trevor was born, was to be able to feel the sense of touch again. To touch his and Nicky's little faces, and stroke their hair, and to teach them to throw a ball.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.