Patient receives hands from an organ donor, embarks on the recovery journey
In a groundbreaking medical achievement, a man who lost both hands in a tragic accident underwent India’s first double hand transplant. Raj Kumar, 45, had been living without hands and lower arms since a train accident in October 2020. However, thanks to the generosity of organ donor Meena Mehta, Kumar received a second chance at life.
Mehta, a former school administrator, was declared brain-dead, and her family decided to honour her wish to donate her organs. Kumar, who was already on the waiting list for a hand transplant, was chosen as the recipient.
The surgery, which lasted 12 hours, involved a team of surgeons meticulously attaching arteries, muscles, tendons, and nerves between the donor’s hands and Kumar’s arms. This groundbreaking procedure marks the first double hand transplant in north India.
While Kumar is now able to use his hands again, he will need to take immunosuppressants and anti-rejection medication for the rest of his life. It will take several months for him to regain full sensation in his new hands, as the nerves need time to reconnect.
Mehta’s organs have not only helped Kumar but have also been donated to three other patients in need, including her kidney, liver, and corneas. The successful surgery at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi has given Kumar hope for the future, as he embarks on his journey of recovery and rehabilitation.
