An 8-year-old boy whose hands and feet were amputated after a serious infection became the youngest patient to receive a double-hand transplant, according to NBC News. Zion Harvey called the surgery a dream come true. He looks forward to throwing a football and holding his little sister.
"My favorite thing [will be to] wait for her to run into my hands as I pick her up and spin her around," he said, according to NBC News.
The infection not only forced him to undergo a quadruple amputation, but also caused multi-organ failure. As a result, he spent years on dialysis before receiving a kidney from his mother, according to the NY Daily News. This process, however, made him even more eligible for the transplant.
Zion currently has prosthetics for his legs, allowing him to be an active child. He walks and runs. He's learned to use his forearms in place of his hands to eat and play video games. He even attends school, according to USA Today.
The surgery was performed at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and took an astounding 10 hours. It consisted of a team of 40 members led by Dr. L. Scott, according to USA Today.
The 8-year-old is currently recovering and doctors hope his body will accept the new limbs. The recovery process is expected to take several months.
