Iraq war veteran gets double arm transplant

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/30/iraq-war-veteran-double-arm-transplant

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A retired US army sergeant who underwent a double arm transplant after losing his limbs in Iraq has been discharged from the Johns Hopkins hospital.

Sergeant Brendan Marrocco, 26, of Staten Island, New York, said he was anxious to return to an active life after the successful bilateral arm transplant surgery six weeks ago at the renowned Baltimore hospital.

"I feel like I'm getting a second chance to start over," he said at a news conference. "I'm just looking forward to everything I would have wanted to do over the last four years." Driving, swimming and hand cycling top his list, he added.

He lost his arms and legs in a roadside bomb attack in Iraq in 2009. "I hated having no arms," Marrocco said. "I was all right with having no legs."

Double-arm transplant surgery is rare and doctors said this was the first such successful procedure to be conducted at Johns Hopkins. Officials said Marrocco was the first US soldier from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to survive after losing all four limbs.

Dr Andrew Lee, who led the transplant team, said although the surgery had been successful it would be several years before Marrocco's nerves regenerated and he gained significant use of the arms. "The progress will be slow but the outcome will be rewarding," he said.

Dr Jamie Shores, an assistant professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery and a member of the surgical team, said Marrocco had exceeded doctors' hopes by finding creative ways to use his new limbs despite the medical team's cautious expectations for his mobility. "We're the ones holding him back at this point," Shores said.

Marrocco wheeled himself into the news conference, during which he pushed his hair back several times with his left arm. He said his right arm and both hands had little or no feeling or movement. "We'll get there," Marrocco said.

The war veteran laughed and joked and said a positive attitude and stubborn nature helped sustain him through his ordeal. "If it really meant something to me I would go through hell to do it," he said.

Marrocco's family said he remained upbeat despite the pain. "He really hasn't had any low points," said Michael Marrocco, his brother.

Doctors said Marrocco would spend up to six hours a day in physical therapy. The rare surgery took 13 hours and involved 16 doctors who volunteered from plastic surgery, orthopaedics and other disciplines, the hospital said.

The operation was largely funded by the US defence department, with the remainder of the cost contributed by the hospital, according to Lee.