Johns Hopkins; double arm transplant for vet
Brendan Marrocco lost both of his arms and both of his legs in Afghanistan in April, 2009. And now, through the miracle of the magic hands that practice at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, he had arms transplanted last month, according to the Washington Post;
The surgery was done by a special team of transplant experts headed by W.P. Andrew Lee, professor and chairman of the department of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the hospital.
It was the first limb transplant by his newly established group at Hopkins, the hospital says.
“He’s doing well,” Marrocco’s father, Alex, said Monday. “Doing well. It’s been a little over a month now.”
The hospital said it would detail the operation at a news briefing Tuesday.
Lee, in an interview, said there have been about 80 arms transplanted in about 60 patients so far around the world.
The times in which we live….
Thanks to Chief Tango for the link.
Category: Veterans Issues
I fully expect to live to see Luke Skywalker’s hand on a vet, but real, working limbs would be SO much better. Good Luck, and God Bless.
Doesn’t SFC Petry have a Skywalker-style hand already?
Wow…..
I’m glad he’s volunteered for this. It shows he’s still a soldier, and leading by example. Good on him for being as brave in this as he was in the service.
Godspeed, young man. Hopefully the surgery will be a long-term success.
You have not heard of the guy with the terminator arm?
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/terminator-like-bionic-arm-makes-british-amputee-feel-complete-again/
Wow! Just. WOW! I am continually impressed on a daily basis by the advancements in modern medicine. Who knows where we will be in a year, 5 years, 10 years??
Fantasy has become reality and the fun has gone out of those B movies from the 50s. Technology really is grand, though, and I’m happy for those that benefit. Now, how is Obamacare’s tax on medial devices going to impact these advances?
Brian Kolfage is a triple amputee airman who is a wonderful advocate for the wounded: https://www.facebook.com/BrianKolfage
He posts a lot of info about his prosthetics and has remained very active – surfing, scuba, skiing, etc. – and has a great attitude towards life.
I’m still waiting for the day when they can do a brain transplant…and we can send most of the folks in Washington to get one.
I met Brendan Marrocco two years ago on a ski/snowboard trip for Vets in Aspen. I was blown away by the patience he has in life and how incredibly difficult everything is for him with no limbs. Dude definitely has a warrior spirit. After I saw him struggle to simply pick up a piece of pizza and try and eat it I vowed to stop bitching so much about about the loss of one arm. He was even kind enough to loan me some prosthetic arm parts after I destroyed mine snowboarding some back country runs. Seriously awesome guy.
It’s a good reminder not to lose hope.
I keep thinking of the two French deaf twins in the news recently, both given the prognosis that they will soon also be blind, and they chose assisted suicide. That might have made sense in the old days, but not anymore. There are too many good things on the horizon.
@11. Referring to Brendan, J.R. calls him a “Seriously awesome guy.” So are you pal. Thanks for the message in your post.
This is great news !!!
It’s too bad that things like this are needed, but thank God they are trying it with a Veteran that so deserves the absolute best !!!!!
Godspeed young Trooper !!!
“What a fascinating modern age we live in.” ~ Capt. Jack Aubrey, “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”