Heyaaa, everyday I get more convinced that we are God ourselves.
Surgeons at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) joined with colleagues from Penn Medicine recently to complete the world's first bilateral hand transplant on a child. Earlier this month, the surgical team successfully transplanted donor hands and forearms onto eight-year-old Zion Harvey who, several years earlier, had undergone amputation of his hands and feet and a kidney transplant following a serious infection.

Led by L. Scott Levin, M.D., FACS*, Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Penn Medicine, Director of the Hand Transplantation Program at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Professor of Surgery (Division of Plastic Surgery) at the Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania, a 40-member multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses and other staff from plastic and reconstructive surgery, orthopaedic surgery, anesthesiology, and radiology, participated in the operation. Attending surgeons from CHOP and from Penn Medicine, along with Scott H. Kozin, M.D.***, chief of staff for Shriners Hospitals for Children--Philadelphia, collaborated during the 10-hour surgical transplantation.

"This surgery was the result of years of training, followed by months of planning and preparation by a remarkable team," said Levin. "The success of Penn's first bilateral hand transplant on an adult, performed in 2011, gave us a foundation to adapt the intricate techniques and coordinated plans required to perform this type of complex procedure on a child. CHOP is one of the few places in the world that offer the capabilities necessary to push the limits of medicine to give a child a drastically improved quality of life."

"This extraordinary accomplishment highlights the world-class abilities of the physicians, nurses, therapists and other staff who are privileged to serve our patients and their families with skill and dedication," said Madeline Bell, president and chief executive officer of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "I'm especially grateful to Zion's family who entrusted him to our care."

"The ability to plan and carry out this type of surgery is testament to the skill, expertise, surgical innovation, and passion for excellence available here at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia," said N. Scott Adzick, M.D., CHOP's surgeon-in-chief. "I am extremely proud of Dr. Levin and his team for their courage, dedication and expertise, and appreciative to Zion and his family, whose bravery and trust in this clinical team is truly inspiring."

Zion was initially referred to Shriners Hospitals for Children for their expertise in pediatric orthopaedic care, including surgery and rehabilitation. Through a coordinated effort between Shriners Hospitals for Children and CHOP, Zion was evaluated as a possible recipient of the first pediatric hand transplant. "The collaborative effort between these institutions was necessary to assemble the team and organize the players to orchestrate such a complex and demanding procedure that had never been performed on a child." stated Scott H. Kozin, M.D., chief of staff for Shriners Hospitals for Children--Philadelphia.

Before the surgery could be conducted, it was first necessary to locate a suitable donor, a function coordinated by Gift of Life Donor Program, the nonprofit organ and tissue donor program which serves the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware. "For 41 years, Gift of Life Donor Program has partnered with transplant centers throughout this region to bring innovative transplant procedures to patients in need," stated Richard Hasz, vice president of Clinical Services for Gift of Life. "As with all types of transplant, surgeries such as this one could not take place without the generosity of a donor and a donor family. We thank them for their selflessness and for their gift that made this surgery possible."

"The skills necessary to perform such complex surgery at CHOP have been acquired from lessons learned over the past 20-plus years of performing pediatric solid organ transplantation," said Abraham Shaked, M.D., Ph.D., the Eldridge L. Eliason Professor of Surgery and Director, Penn Transplant Institute. "We have learned the importance of closely monitoring and managing the activity of the immune system through years of experience, and are hopeful that Zion will enjoy excellent long-term allograft function and a normal life."

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.

During the surgery, the hands and forearms from the donor were attached by connecting bone, blood vessels, nerves, muscles, tendons and skin. The surgical team was divided into four simultaneous operating teams, two focused on the donor limbs, and two focused on the recipient. First, the forearm bones, the radius and ulna, were connected with steel plates and screws. Next, microvascular surgical techniques were used to connect the arteries and veins. Once blood flow was established through the reconnected blood vessels, surgeons individually repaired and rejoined each muscle and tendon. Surgeons then reattached nerves and then closed the surgical sites.

Zion continues to receive daily immunosuppressant medications to prevent his body from rejecting the new limbs, as well as his transplanted kidney. Zion is being cared for by CHOP's nephrology and kidney transplant team, as well as his hand transplant surgical team. Post surgery, he spent a week in CHOP's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, then was moved to a medical unit and eventually moved to an inpatient rehabilitation unit where he undergoes rigorous hand therapy several times per day, an essential step to gaining improvement in function.

The clinical team expects Zion to spend several more weeks in CHOP's rehabilitation unit, and then to be discharged to his home in Baltimore, Md. Dr. Levin and his team will continue to follow Zion monthly in the short-term and then annually throughout his lifetime.

* L. Scott Levin, M.D., FACS, holds several medical posts. He is Director of the Hand Transplantation Program at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Penn Medicine; The Paul B. Magnuson Professor of Bone and Joint Surgery at Penn; and Professor of Surgery (Division of Plastic Surgery) at the Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania.

**Dr. Benjamin Chang, M.D., is co-director of CHOP's Hand Transplantation Program; associate chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at Penn Medicine; and associate professor of Clinical Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania.

***Scott H. Kozin, M.D., is chief of staff for Shriners Hospitals for Children and clinical professor of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Temple University School of Medicine.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150728162422.htm

@OP, i hope God doesnt get angry with you. You better edit the topic and remove the name of God from it.

What do you have to say to this?

hahaha



god can only heal sick people that if not prayed to, will still get better on their own. TB Joshua and co takes glory for healing people that are seriously taking medication, present amputees to them, they will pick run.

How many surgeries have doctors performed and have failed?How many times have doctors done all they can and the patient still dies?

Except the Lord build a house,they labour in vain that build it

May the ones you type with shrivel up by tomorrow!

thorpido:
How many surgeries have doctors performed and have failed?How many times have doctors done all they can and the patient still dies?

Except the Lord build a house,they labour in vain that build. It

Thrash, at least they are making attempt, why is Ur god lazy and uuncaring to amputees? What will it take God to give someone new hands, new legs?

No , god won't, God only knows how to cure malaria and thyphoid, with the help of drugs of course.

TDonald:
God gives life when Doctors cannot

You forgot to write, god taketh life too

kay1one2:
May the ones you type with shrivel up by tomorrow!

You will be among the first people I will greet by tomorrow, strong and healthy,you evil entity.

Dapo777:


Thrash, at least they are making attempt, why is Ur god lazy and uuncaring to amputees? What will it take God to give someone new hands, new legs?

No , god won't, God only knows how to cure malaria and thyphoid, with the help of drugs of course.

TRASH!!

Dapo777:


You will be among the first people I will greet by tomorrow, strong and healthy,you evil entity.

With shrivelled hands!

Dapo777:


You will be among the first people I will greet by tomorrow, strong and healthy,you evil entity.

I believe God heals but at his own discretion otherwise I imagine God healing every infirmity all the time everyday,that essentially means no one Will ever die.

Atheists like to think they reason,I dont doubt but their line of reasoning is just narrow. (I don't mean to sound offensive)

Eddlad:



I believe God heals but at his own discretion otherwise I imagine God healing every infirmity all the time everyday,that essentially means no one Will ever die.

Atheists like to think they reason,I dont doubt but their line of reasoning is just narrow. (I don't mean to sound offensive)

I am talking about amputees, show me a link to an amputee that was given another hand by God.

Dapo777:


I am talking about amputees, show me a link to an amputee that was given another hand by God.

Today an amputee, tomorrow a blind individual etc where exactly will we draw the line and who draws it?

Eddlad:



Today an amputee, tomorrow a blind individual etc where exactly will we draw the line and who draws it?

This shows u have no point.
Show me an amputee that was given another limb by God ,then I will consider the possibility of god existing.

Dapo777:


This shows u have no point.
Show me an amputee that was given another limb by God ,then I will consider the possibility of god existing.

God would create an infinite number of you If quantity was all he wanted, forget healing of amputees he would have showed up himself and everyone would see him. Quality my dear quality, can you envision how the heart of someone who has not seen yet believes then finally sees be swayed?
Little wonder how just 12 people were able to propagate the gospel.In short everything is exactly how it's supposed to be some don't see it, some doubt it but a few know it.
Don't get tried of asking after all am not tried of answering.

Eddlad:




God would create an infinite number of you If quantity was all he wanted, forget healing of amputees he would have showed up himself and everyone would see him. Quality my dear quality, can you envision how the heart of someone who has not seen yet believes then finally sees be swayed?
Little wonder how just 12 people were able to propagate the gospel.In short everything is exactly how it's supposed to be some don't see it, some doubt it but a few know it.
Don't get tried of asking after all am not tried of answering.

Why should u forget amputees?
It's not only God that's running away from amputees even his followers are running away from amputees.

Eddlad:




God would create an infinite number of you If quantity was all he wanted, forget healing of amputees he would have showed up himself and everyone would see him. Quality my dear quality, can you envision how the heart of someone who has not seen yet believes then finally sees be swayed?
Little wonder how just 12 people were able to propagate the gospel.In short everything is exactly how it's supposed to be some don't see it, some doubt it but a few know it.
Don't get tried of asking after all am not tried of answering.

lol.. U re even talking of predestination.

Ok am predestined to be an atheist. No bigie.

Dapo777:


Why should u forget amputees?
It's not only God that's running away from amputees even his followers are running away from amputees.

You read but you could not comprehend what I wrote you,is it safe to say you will only be satisfied after you see an amputee healed?

Dapo777:


Why should u forget amputees?
It's not only God that's running away from amputees even his followers are running away from amputees.

Hahaha mehn it's really funny seeing all these die hard 'self acclaimed' born again running from the question on amputee...

That was how I attended a church program 2days ago, invited by my mum who was troubled that I seems to be possessed simply cos I don't go to church anymore or find any religious things of any interest to me, she was almost crying, so to make her feel a bit relieved, I succumbed to attend the program on one condition, I told her that the prophet she was taking me to meet must prove to me that God exist by doing some extraordinary thing that would prove beyond doubt that God of the christian is indeed God and alive, else she must never disturb me about going to church again, and so she agreed, na so I reach o, mehn I sit for fore front o so that the man go see me clearly, the man dey see into other peoples life but not mine. As if that was not enough disappointment, the prophet was just busy requesting for offerings upon offerings, for tithe, increase of cgpa for students, prosperity for those who desire and offering for those who want to sow into the church and even offering for business men and women who want God to embarrass them with customers the next day, mehn na so gullible people just dey drop money o.
As if that wasn't enough, the man said we should pray to God and ask God for anything within 24hrs that if God doesn't do it then he was called by God, na so me I ask God to prove he is God who called the prophet and the creator of heaven and earth by depositing 100k into my account the next day, I vow to give half of the money to his church and come back to testify of his miracle money, and I vow to believe him all my life and never question him again. Mehn, the next day, na so I go bank with my ATM card o, I slot the card to check my account balance hoping to see the 100k, mehn I was so disappointed, never before was I this disappointed...
Religious people are just gullible bunch I tell ya!

[quote author=krattoss post=36456744] lol.. U re even talking of predestination.

Ok am predestined to be an atheist. No bigie.[/quote


'everything is exactly how its supposed to be' does not mean predestination the bible doesnt talk about such but of cause you probably knew that.

Eddlad:



You read but you could not comprehend what I wrote you,is it safe to say you will only be satisfied after you see an amputee healed?

Oga, stop beating behind the bush o jare, I too will believe and have a rethink on my stance on christianity if you can prove to me that the christian God is powerful enough to restore an amputee...

joe4christ:


Hahaha mehn it's really funny seeing all these die hard 'self acclaimed' born again running from the question on amputee...

That was how I attended a church program 2days ago, invited by my mum who was troubled that I seems to be possessed simply cos I don't go to church anymore or find any religious things of any interest to me, she was almost crying, so to make her feel a bit relieved, I succumbed to attend the program on one condition, I told her that the prophet she was taking me to meet must prove to me that God exist by doing some extraordinary thing that would prove beyond doubt that God of the christian is indeed God and alive, else she must never disturb me about going to church again, and so she agreed, na so I reach o, mehn I sit for fore front o so that the man go see me clearly, the man dey see into other peoples life but not mine. As if that was not enough disappointment, the prophet was just busy requesting for offerings upon offerings, for tithe, increase of cgpa for students, prosperity for those who desire and offering for those who want to sow into the church and even offering for business men and women who want God to embarrass them with customers the next day, mehn na so gullible people just dey drop money o.
As if that wasn't enough, the man said we should pray to God and ask God for anything within 24hrs that if God doesn't do it then he was called by God, na so me I ask God to prove he is God who called the prophet and the creator of heaven and earth by depositing 100k into my account the next day, I vow to give half of the money to his church and come back to testify of his miracle money, and I vow to believe him all my life and never question him again. Mehn, the next day, na so I go bank with my ATM card o, I slot the card to check my account balance hoping to see the 100k, mehn I was so disappointed, never before was I this disappointed...
Religious people are just gullible bunch I tell ya!

Funny enough,you wanted to be disappointed so you would come and give your account here on nairaland, you get disappointed and here you are.

joe4christ:


Oga, stop beating behind the bush o jare, I too will believe and have a rethink on my stance on christianity if you can prove to me that the christian God is powerful enough to restore an amputee...

And I asked that if he restored an amputee today, tomorrow we would ask him to revive our dead loved relatives, life would go on endlessly, where would we draw the line?

Eddlad:


And I asked that if he restored an amputee today, tomorrow we would ask him to revive our dead loved relatives, life would go on endlessly, where would we draw the line?

I personally would draw the line if he can restore an amputee. Period!

Ode!!! Who then gave the doctors the hands they used for the operation?

joe4christ:


I personally would draw the line if he can restore an amputee. Period!

Yh am sure you would

Eddlad:


Yh am sure you would

So, till then, hold your peace!

joe4christ:


So, till then, hold your peace!

I always have.

I seriously think the Op is either a child or he is stupid. Did I hear u say transplant? Where did they get the hands they used in performing the surgery from?
Why are people this shallow? Did u even think before u opened this thread? Did the Doctors create the ones they used to transplant? If they are as good as u think they are, why does it take them so long to train and carry out extensive experiments before doing an actual surgery?
Even clons need an already existing cells from a human being created by God.
@Joe4Christ, I think you shd change ur Moniker, you are a joke.
I had a bone condition years back that needed transplant, that was when I knew that doctors can't create. They only use what is already existing to work with.
Lord cause this Ops to wake up tomorrow with norm hands, let him call a doctor to restore sensation to his hands. This is how I know that God is a good God. He allows you go on and on, to ur peril though, because when the consequenses starts, then it will be too late.

Eddlad:



You read but you could not comprehend what I wrote you,is it safe to say you will only be satisfied after you see an amputee healed?

Yes I will, now show me one will you?