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Subscribe to RSSRichard Mangino, who received a bilateral hand transplant, reads a statement to his doctors who performed the 12 hour surgery.
After Richard Mangino lost his arms below the elbows and legs below the knees from sepsis in 2002, prostheses enabled him to continue to follow his passion for painting and drawing.
But the 65-year-old Massachusetts man longed to be able to feel his grandchildren’s faces and stroke their hair, pleasures not even the most sophisticated artificial limbs could afford.
Inspired by his family, Mangino last week became the fourth person in the United States to receive a double hand transplant, according to his doctors at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
“Today my miracle has come true,” Mangino said Thursday at a press conference at the hospital, his new hands and forearms resting on pillows in his lap piled nearly to shoulder height. He’d had his limbs amputated after developing a bloodstream infection.
The hospital isn’t disclosing the exact date of the 12-hour operation to protect the donor’s anonymity. Registering as an organ and tissue donor on a driver’s license isn’t considered consent for this type of donation, so the New England Donor Bank had to obtain permission from the donor’s family.
At the press conference, Richard Luskin, executive director of the New England Donor Bank, read a statement from the donor’s wife. “He would have wanted to continue helping people,” the donor’s wife said. “My husband always said, ‘it’s just a body.’ I didn’t have to struggle with the decision.”
Simon Talbot, the hand surgeon who directed the 40-member team involved in Mangino’s transplant surgery, said “the results so far have been an amazing success.” Within a few days of the operation, Talbot said, Mangino could move his fingers.
Still, Mangino faces months of therapy and healing, Talbot said. He should be able to feel his grandchildren’s faces with his hands in six to nine months, Talbot said, and his fine muscle movement should return in nine to 18 months.
When asked whether Mangino will ever be able to play the guitar again, as he had before his amputations, Talbot said, “we never say never.”
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Pretty amazing stuff! I'm glad it went to a regular guy and not some washed-up millionaire celebrity, politician, or sports hero.
ive got a bad foot that the doctors cant do anything with. maybe ill be able to get something like this one day- it would be nice to be able to walk again. good luck to this guy and ill say a prayer for you :)
Miracle? No its called science.
This may be science, but miracles still abound.
Indigo Halo: Excellent post! It seems great that a fairly average person gets to benefit. Of course if some wealthy person does it, I'm OK with that.
With just one small exception? The word "hero" should not be used in the same sentence with an athlete.
The word "hero" is for those who risk their own lives to help or save others, such as "firemen, police and soldiers".
The lowest form of human life are Politicians and Journalists... and belong at the very END of the line.
You missed lawyer for you "end of the line" group...
@net-10, no, "miracles" do not abound, or exist at all.
The word "miracle" is tossed around too loosely to describe unlikely evens coming to pass. Literally, the word means something that CAN NOT HAPPEN actually happening. The impossible taking place. And by the way, ignorange of the line between what is actually possible and what isn't does NOT constitute a "miracle".
People are so quick to wrap up their own preconceptions and emotions, hopes and fears into the events of the universe around us, that when we witness the unlikely, we're tempted to give credit to some magical overseer. There is no such being. No matter how many people NEED there to be one (or more) "gods", there are none at work in these events.
A "miracle" would be this gentleman growing new hands on his own.
A "miracle" would be hands appearing out of thin air where there were none.
NOT a miracle: medical science attaching the donated hands of another man who died as an organ donor.
Please stop with the ubiquitous religious platitudes. They don't apply here or anywhere.
Well, it would be a miracle if this guy doesn't digitally oscillate his wiener because it would be like someone else doing it.
It would be a miracle if just for once everyone was happy for someone instead of taking shots... What? I'm happy for the guy, the shot was there... I saw no danger... I took it.
The biggest miracle would be able to figure out how 99octane can spell ubiquitous, yet misspell ignorance... oh, sorry... ignorange. Is that a fruit?
@99octane: What is a 'miracle' is that you can spell 'ubiquitous' but not 'ignorance.'
@Kinkomaster: Damn; you beat me to it, Sir! LOL!
ignorange is actually misspelled: ginorange: a ginormous orange...
:-)
[0.o]... you owe me a beer. ;)
If a micracle is only the impossible taking place, there is no such thing as a miracle. If a man grew new hands, you'd say it wasn't a miracle because if he grew them, it was obviously possible. Fifty years ago, people would have said that a heart transplant was a miracle. It was unheard of. Now it is an every day practice. Just because we have evolved enough to accomplish what was previously unthinkable, does not mean that it is any less miraculous.
Why do religious people always attack spelling when trying to claim their so called "miracles" ?
If the gentleman who received the hands wants to call it a miracle, he can call it a miracle, no need to mar his happiness with technicalities right now. Just let the guy feel his grandkids faces.
What if you find out that you got your new hands from a Gay guy??? Hellooooo that's kinda gross!!!!
Agreed!...Amazing advance in technology and good that the common man benefits from it. To those who would critique this patients grateful statement in regard to his new hands.....I say this......He said ''today my miracle has come true'' This doesnt mean he is calling the tech a miracle.....only the fact that he has new hands and is grateful......Its sad when people pick apart the article to make some dumbA$$ point...
Why must we attack an english speaking person for using an english word. As Dastardly pointed out, to those who have lived long enough this would seem like a 'miracle', as this word can also apply to something that has never been done before or unfathomable at one time to believe. Ignorance is just saying things in anger because you don't like how somebody else thinks. Saying somebody's comment 'has no purpose here' defeats the idea of these kinds of comment boards. Nobody brought up religion except the person attacking it...the original poster admitted this was the result of science. Ridiculous...
@99octane
Ever hear of cancer patients that are cured and doctors don't know what to call it? Incurable cancer just gone. I'd call that a miracle. You would be what I call and Ignoramus Maximus.
Now he can put his hands together and thank GOD.
A miracle is usually defined as an event which is impossible without divine assistence. No TRUE scientist declares that there is no God. All that true scientists can say is that the existence of God has been neither proven nor disproven. BTW, this is also true for people of faith. So I suggest that we all just celebrate the good fortune of this man and his family and mourn the loss to his donor and his family.
Who is not to say everyone has a tiny snippet of God within thereby enabling each of us to perform miracles even if through technology.
Mighty are the works of man...
I hope someone can use my hands if I die too early. They've done amazing things for me including allowing me to be self-sufficient for many, many years. It is strange to think of them living on without me, though...
I have a problem with organ transplants. Someone healthy dies, and then their organs are donated by their family. Doctors remove them from the deceased, then charge the living patient for them. The deceased's family gets nothing but a thank you. I understand it costs money to remove a healthy organ from a dead body, but doesn't it seem like the departed party's family should get something more than a thank you when someone else is getting payed tens of thousands of dollars for their dead family member's parts and pieces? I know you are saving someone's life, but there should be something there for the families of the dead.
@ O.o it's called a typo, dumbass. My point stands.
Cancer patients who go into spontaneous remission are NOT rare. Calling it a "miracle" is IGNORANT. There, did I spell that right, A-Hole? Attributing such remission to a benevolent creator god who takes an active role in the lives of his creations to also suppose that cancer itself is a punishment for sin, or the act of a demon, or some other such nonesense. You're what I would call a DUMBASS. That's D-U-M-B-A-S-S.
Why does everyone have to pick at the man? He had both of his hands REPLACED! THats not just amazing, its a miracle. Why does 99octane have to give him so much crap about what he said. I know its science, but i think there is just more than science involved. If you had no hands, and then you got a double hand transplant. Would you thank science, or god? I would thank god for giving the doctors the skill and knowledge to do this surgery. Just let the man be.
OOOooh (did I spell that correctly?), that was a real zinger, 99octane! Don't be mad at me for your lack of attention to detail...I am not a dumb, but I can be an ass. I am curious though: looking at the keyboard, how did you mispelled IGNORANCE (let alone IGNORANT) by spelling IGNORANGE? There has to be at least two keys apart to screw that up. Hmm, let me try it:
ignorant ignorance ignorant ignorant ignorance...
Hmm. I just cannot determine what you were doing to allow yourself to mispell that word, let alone reread your post PRIOR to posting it, and then allowing the editing time to pass so that it is permanent...Do you need a hand transplant too?
Maybe you should change your name to <50octane or something...Oh, btw (that means 'by the way') the symbol "<" means 'less than' or when construed with a number or word following it could be interpreted as 'sub' so in your case, 'sub50octane'...
Cheers!
[0.o]
*sigh* Not that I owe you an explanation, O.o, but I don't type in a "standard" way.
I am also not impressed with self-appointed spelling, grammar or syntax Nazis who use such typos and errors to detract from the point made by those they disagree with. Few of us are sitting here with a thesaurus handy to make our post show us in the best intellectual light.
Also, your juvenile attempt to insult me by suggesting a new screen name is pretty weak.
But you're right about one thing, you sure are an ass. I'm done with you.
@Kinkomaster: Nice Top Gun reference.
@99octane: Couldn't agree with you more. The word "miracle" is too often used. I'm just glad that this gentleman chose to thank his doctors and not an imaginary god. He is the beneficiary of science, research, technology, and the indomitable wonder of human beings working together for a common goal. Hooray!
@C-bob: There is no "god." All human gods are quite imaginary. That's right. We've dreamed up thousands of them, each as fictional as the next. Just because you believe in one currently doesn't make it any more real than the gods of the Aztecs, Egyptians, or ancient Romans.
whywontgodhealamputees.com -- Brilliant, rational website. You'll find all the answers there.
@Andy Blue: "A miracle is a changed consciousness." (P. Twitchell)
I'd say this was a miracle of science.
@99octane, your first post: Flying was a miracle when the Wright Brothers flew. I think the term 'miracle' isn't, as you say, tossed around to describe very unlikely events from happening. By this definition, the BP Oil Spill a couple years back could be considered a miracle. I think 'miracle' is being used here as something very risky and unlikely to work actually working, as seen with the article above.
Indigo, you are a stiff and should have a head transplant.
What about the fact that he will have to take immune suppressing drugs for the rest of his life? What about the research to make this not be necessary?
Most Americans still refuse to want to donate their bodies after death. Such miracles will never happen if there aren't enough body donors. In contrast, religious rituals involving burials and such are entirely without meaning. Personally I donate blood on a regular basis, and am also ready to have my body donated after death.
People have a RIGHT to do whatever to their bodies as they wish, but this is yet another reason I'll never be an organ donor, nor will I EVER let my wife's or son's organs be ripped out if they pass before me. And no, I'm NOT religious. NOT comfortable with any of it. Don't like the concept of people being overjoyed about my loved one's death.
You contradict yourself. You are also selfish and small-minded.
People like Hotticket sometimes have to eat those words about never considering donation.I am 100 percent sure he would take any kind of organ transplant to save the lives of his wife or her son or himself. Makes you look like a hypocrite. I have never met a family who regreted donating but I have met some who regreted not having the chance to donate.
Indigo,,, Are you sure about that? He looks a lot like Howard Dean... Ya know what? I'll bet he's glad he has Romney Care
I wonder if police & FBI fingerprint checks are part of the donor process? Imagine ending up with the finger prints linking you to the OJ Simpson knife
Hey Jim,
That would suck if OJ still has his hands....LOL
JIM: Naw !!! That would work only if the donor had been hit by a ball while he was on the links.
Stupid comment.
Indigo..........Isn't your Messiah, President Obama.......a "politician"?
IReckon,,, A bit sensitive this morning aren't you? What happened, did you wake up on the south side of the Perry Rock?
So he wants to be able to feel his grandchildren's faces, but do his grandchildren want his mutant hands touching them?!
keep trolling james
Hey Dahmer
Guess you would like to eat them???? And the Grandchildren ....
By the way, I thought you got whacked off in prison??? No pun intended ....
dano, That would be his brother, Jeffrey. I would have to change my name, I think. Either that or just be James D. and refuse to tell anyone what my real last name was.
Only in America! Happy for this man. I pray his healing is fast.
I am happy for the guy and I wish him well. I also hope this transplant wasn't accomplished with public funds.
Yah, because God knows we don't want everyone to have access to healthcare in this country. Scandalous. Let them all die, right? Serves them all right, right? LOLOLOLL
Die uninsured die, right?
I loves me some rotten tea, dat is fer sher....
@grump in NM: True. Better to use public funds to bail out fat cat bankers and hedge fund managers than to help ordinary citizens. *eyeroll*
I bet I can guess which party's lever you pull at election time.
Couldn't he feel his grandchildren's faces with his stubs or his feet?
I believe the article said he lost his arms and legs due to the infection !
Ozarkdahlin: You've GOT to be kidding! I sure as heck wouldn't want my Grampa to try to feel my face with his feet...eeewwwww...stubs would be creepy too...besides stubs wouldn't have the sensations that your hands and fingertips have.
Let's give this guy a hand folks! No let's make it two.
@ 99octane: What is a miracle is that you can spell 'ubiquitous' but not spell 'ignorance'...
I'm happy for the guy, but for him to be the beneficiary of stunning advances in medical and scientific research, and call it a "miracle," indicates to me a less-than-adequate appreciation for what he has benefited from.
These responses just reinforce my belief that people will use any story to argue and bicker with each other. The guy is happy for now. Let it go at that.
The right wing cyber warriors were called to arms....or should I say hands...a couple of days ago...
They are everywhere spreading their message of cynicism, division and discontent. They probably believe they are doing the work of their version of God. Poor puppets.
AVI-IVA, re-read your post. Do you see the irony in what you write? You, of all people, should not accuse others of spreading a message of cynicism and discontent.
Wow, that's great! I'm really happy for him, brightened my day.
As for the whole 'miracle' vs. 'science', I find it kind of silly. :) It can go either way. It was the 4th time someone had ever received such a transplant. Personally, it's a wonderful combination of both. (It's amazing that we've gone so far!) I think some people are just trying to instigate something.. Hehe.
“Today my miracle has come true,” Mangino said.... I would take that as more of a personal statement as he didn't specify and say "It's a miracle." It's a miracle to him. I say good for him, and job well done to his medical team.
You tidy folks who have some problem with the word "miracle", why do you keep gathering at these spectacles in the first place? Accidental or do you actively seek venues to have something to beech about? Have you tried checkers or scrabble?
Comments like this are all over many stories. It simply means more people are extricating themselves from the dark days of human belief in imaginary deities and superstitions. It's a slow process, this intellectual evolution, but it's inexorable and it's happening.
As I read recently, "The Internet is where religion goes to die."
Can't happen soon enough. Mankind has suffered horribly at the hands of various religions for far, far too long.
Nice to read good news stories. I hope more wonderful stories like this appear. I am happy for the man, and his family. I hope it also gives some measure of comfort to the donor's family knowing that something positive came from the loss of their loved one.
This man is lucky to have survived the systemic infection and amputation of his arms and legs. He also risked his life to endure this lengthy surgery. He will also risk health complications due to anti-rejection drugs for the rest of his life. My sympathy to the donor's family and admiration for their decision for such a donation.
What a great story! ~ Now let's just hope the generous donor didn't have a record accompanied by his fingerprints on file in a police precint somewhere!!
OMG: Can you just imagine being a 12 yr old with no hands.....??? Glad the operation was successful...
My child was dying with a tumor that was not able to be completely excised. After many years of battling surgeries to keep the tumor at bay of the brain, on a hike I meet a man. He and I chatted as we took a breath. The conversation got to him being a retired doctor. I mentioned my consuming life with doctors and hospitals. I mentioned something that triggered him to recall advances in such tumors as my child had. We exchanged numbers. He followed through. And, eighteen months later my daughter was on the road to a full life. This stranger was the miracle... or, was the miracle the ten year battles until there was a treatment on the horizon, or was it the new advances in DNA testing. Maybe the miracle was that the insurance company was willing to pay for the experimental surgery? Maybe the miracle was the combination. Whatever, there was the hand of "someone" more mighty then me who guided us. To me it was God. To other's a higher power. To some just science. Whatever you believe is your right and it is perfect. For, you can only believe what you know. For myself I know that my child is alive when she could have been dead. This is a miracle and science working in perfect harmony. Oh, if as humans we could all work so perfectly.
Aside from the comments by all the agnostics, look at it this way, if medicine has progressed to the point they can do this, then others can also be helped.
Hustler Magazine once ran an article about Science and Religion. It said, "Science asks the question, 'What?' and Religion asks the question, 'Why?'.
I am just happy for him and thank God nothing like that has happen to me or my family.
Pretty sadistic god you believe in, then, because if it's this god who's keeping it from happening to you, it stands to reason he's either causing it or allowing it to happen to others. And although I suspect you don't mean it as such, it makes you seem pretty callous that you're okay with your god dispensing suffering and misery to others, just as long as none comes your way. Guess all those people who die in natural disasters or suffer horribly from cancer just aren't praying the right way, eh?