In August, John Peck, a retired Marine Sergeant who became a quad amputee in 2010 when he stepped on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan, received a bilateral arm transplant at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. On Wednesday, Mr. Peck spoke about his experience during a press conference at the hospital, according to a detailed report from The Washington Post.
The 13-hour procedure was performed by Simon G. Talbot, MD, Brigham and Women's director of upper extremity transplantation, and his team. The donated right arm was attached just above the elbow and the donor's left arm was attached below the elbow. Dr. Talbot told the Post parts of the surgery were performed with a microscope and some of the stitches were as thin as human hair.
Mr. Peck, despite a brief period of temporary rejection, is doing well. He can lift the new arms, but sensation is limited. The hospital said he likely won't experience significant results for several months.
Mr. Peck is the fourth bilateral arm transplant performed at Brigham and Women's Hospital, according to The Boston Globe. The hospital financed the operation and the physicians volunteered their services.
According to the Post, Mr. Peck expressed gratitude to the donor's family at the media briefing.
"Your loved one's death will not be for nothing," said Mr. Peck. "Every day that I look down at our new arms, I will drive on ... and I will never give up. I will remember his selflessness and his gift until the day I die."
The donor's family prefers to remain anonymous, the hospital said.
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