The NHS has performed the world’s first successful double hand transplant.
The operation took place five months ago and since that time, Steven Gallagher, 48, has recovered and gained full control of his new hands.
Steven was suffering from an autoimmune disease that left him unable to perform basic tasks, eventually leading doctors to suggest the groundbreaking surgery.
The father-of-three initially dismissed the idea due to the many risks involved, but eventually agreed as if successful, it would change his life forever.
Thankfully, it was fully worked out and Steven is enjoying life at home with his wife and children.
What illness led to the double hand transplant?
Steven, a roof tiler from Dreghorn, Ayrshire, was diagnosed with scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease that causes scarring of the skin and internal organs.
He first developed the rash 13 years ago and reported suffering “horrendous” pain because of it.
It wasn’t just his hands that had the condition, it also included his mouth and nose before it worsened in his hands.
Around seven years ago Steven’s fingers stared to curl until they were fully in the fist position.
It was at this point that the experts suggested the double hand transplant and the long road toward the world changing operation began.
How long did the operation take?
The operation took place in December of 2021 at Leeds General Infirmary.
The surgery itself took around 12 hours to perform as Steven’s hands were removed and new ones were grafted on in the hope they would allow him to use them.
He remained in the hospital for around four weeks following the procedure as he recovered from the life-altering operation.
Now, he has finally opened up about his decision and what life is like now thanks to the doctors and experts that have given him a new lease on life.
Professor Simon Kay, of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "Having a hand transplant is very different from a kidney or other organ transplant, as hands are something we see every day and we use them in so many ways.
"For this reason, we and our expert clinical psychologists assess and prepare patients, in order to be sure that they will be able to cope psychologically with the permanent reminder of their transplant, and the risk the body may reject the transplanted hands."
What did Steven Gallagher say about the operation?
Before the operation, Steven was hesitant to go ahead with it, as it came with many risks that it wouldn’t be successful.
Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: "My wife and I spoke about it and came to the agreement to go for it.
I could end up losing my hands anyway, so it was just a case of letting them know I was going to go with it."
The surgery was overseen by the Leeds Teaching Hospital HNS Trust, marking the first time in the world such a dramatic operation has been done around the world.
Steven explained: "After the operation I woke up and it was quite surreal because before it I had my hands and then when I woke up from the operation I still had hands so in my head I never really lost any hands.
“These hands are amazing, everything has happened so quickly. From the moment I woke up from the operation I could move them.
"It has given me a new lease of life. I'm still finding things hard just now but things are getting better every week with the physio and the occupational therapists, everything is just slowly getting better.
"The pain is the big thing. The pain before the operation was horrendous, I was on so much pain relief it was unbelievable, but now I've no pain at all."
