Last Tuesday, a veteran from the war in Iraq was able to break medical history by having the first ever successful arm transplant surgery. Brendan Marrocco was severely wounded by a car bombing in Iraq, which tragically severed all four off his limbs. It was said to be a miracle that he even survived. He explains in this article that he died and was resuscitated three times before he finally became stable. Throughout the years since this horrible injury in 2010, Marrocco has struggled with his way of life. He says that missing legs doesn't affect a person's freedom as much as missing his arms. This all changed when the results of a 13 hour surgery gave Marrocco a new pair of working, human arms.
When discovering this story, I was instantly mesmerized. It seems like every part of this story is nothing short of miraculous. The fact that someone could even survive an injury of this sort is unbelievable. There is no doubt that this will be a sacred moment in medical history. Prosthetic limbs were a revolutionary creation and have changed the course of medicine, but only a handfull of human transplants (limbs) have been attempted, and nothing this extreme. The science of connecting the bones together with plates and screws combined with the connection of the nerves, blood vessels, and tendons really helps the viewer understand how intricate and special this surgery was. I feel as though I have just witnessed the future of medicine and can't imagine the potential that this brings.
Reference: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57566545/quadruple-amputee-vet-says-new-arms-feel-amazing/
Robert Edwards | 3:44 February 8
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