Zion Harvey post the historic surgery
Zion Harvey had his hands and feet amputated as well as a kidney transplant a few years ago because of a terrible infection in his body. Now, at eight years old, Zion has become the first person in the world to have a bilateral hand transplant. Doctors at the
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a 40-member team from Penn Medicine were able to successfully attach
both hands and forearms to Zion Harvey.
Zion Harvey is a bright and precocious eight-year-old who has told his doctors that he cannot wait to someday throw a football. A happy and outgoing child, he has adapted well to life without hands, learning to eat, write and even play video games. He figured out ways to perform most of the activities other kids his age can do. Zion received prosthetics for his feet and is able to walk, run and jump with complete independence. Following his latest surgery and after his upcoming rehabilitation, it is expected that Zion will finally get his wish to throw a football along with a myriad of other accomplishments to come.
Double hand transplantation is a complex procedure involving many surgical and non-surgical components. First, the potential recipient must undergo extensive medical screenings and evaluations before surgery. In this case, the patient's previous medical condition, following sepsis at an early age, factored into the decision to perform the transplant. "Zion's kidney transplant following his infection made him a candidate for transplant because he was already taking anti-rejection medication," said Benjamin Chang, M.D.**, co-director of CHOP's Hand Transplant Program as well as associate chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at Penn Medicine.
The surgery is tremendously complex and multiple scientific innovations and expertise was applied in making this happen. The
Baltimore Sun has a full profile on the
Harvey family's experience.
Four teams of surgeons worked simultaneously — two focused on the donor limbs, and two focused on Zion. The forearm bones were first connected with steel plates and screws. Microvascular surgical techniques were then used to connect the arteries and veins.
Once blood started flowing, surgeons repaired and rejoined each muscle and tendon one by one. They then reattached nerves before closing the cuts. They had to go back in when one of Zion's hands turned white, a sign of circulatory problems. The cause was a blocked artery they had to fix.
"When I first saw the hands, I got teary-eyed," Ray said.
All of this was possible because of the donor and the donor family.
You can watch the Baltimore Sun's news report here. WARNING: Video gave me a severe allergic reaction and you should have tissues ready.