In a remarkable medical feat, a talented painter, Raj Kumar, who tragically lost both his hands in a railway accident in Nangloi back in October 2020, has been given a new lease on life through a groundbreaking bilateral hand transplant. The intricate surgery took place at Delhis Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where a team of 11 skilled doctors, led by Dr Mahesh Mangal, Chairman of the Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, and Dr Swaroop Singh Gambhir, Senior Consultant in Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, meticulously executed the complex 12-hour procedure.Kumar, now 45, had been relying on prosthetics after an unsuccessful trial, leaving him with the hope of a successful hand transplant. That hope materialized through the selfless pledge of Meena Mehta, the former administrative head of a South Delhi school, who, after being declared brain-dead, had committed to donating her organs. Her hands became the vital source for Kumars transformative surgery.Dr Gambhir emphasized the precision and expertise required for seamlessly integrating the transplanted hands into Kumars body. The surgical team meticulously reattached various components, including bones, arteries, veins, tendons, muscles, nerves, and skin, adhering to strict transplant protocols.We selected Kumar as he was a bilateral amputee, and after the blood match, we confirmed he was the fit candidate for the patient. We fixed the bones first with plates and screws, followed by muscles, arteries, and nerves, explained Dr Gambhir.The successful procedure not only restored Kumars ability to create art but also marked a milestone for Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, which, in February 2023, became the first hospital in North India authorized to perform hand transplant surgeries. Kumars recovery progressed swiftly, and he is set to be discharged on Wednesday, six weeks after the groundbreaking surgery.Meena Mehtas noble gesture extended beyond Kumar, as her kidneys found a new home at Fortis Gurgaon, offering another individual a chance at life. Simultaneously, her hands, liver, and corneas became instruments of transformation at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, exemplifying the profound impact of organ donation and the possibilities it opens for those in need.
