Steven Gallagher made history last December, becoming the first person with scleroderma, a condition where the skin hardens and tightens, to receive a double hand transplant.
Almost six months after a rare face and hands transplant, Joe DiMeo is relearning how to smile, blink, pinch and squeeze.
The 22-year-old New Jersey resident had the operation last August, two years after being badly burned in a car crash.
“I knew it would be baby steps all the way,” he told the Associated Press. “You’ve got to have a lot of motivation, a lot of patience. And you’ve got to stay strong through everything.”
Joe DiMeo exercises at NYU Langone Health (Mark Lennihan/AP)
Experts say it appears the surgery at NYU Langone Health in New York City was a success, but warn it will take some time to say for sure.
Almost six months after a rare face and hands transplant, Joe DiMeo is relearning how to smile, blink, pinch and squeeze.
The 22-year-old New Jersey resident had the operation last August, two years after being badly burned in a car crash.
“I knew it would be baby steps all the way,” he told the Associated Press. “You’ve got to have a lot of motivation, a lot of patience. And you’ve got to stay strong through everything.”
Joe DiMeo exercises at NYU Langone Health (Mark Lennihan/AP)
Experts say it appears the surgery at NYU Langone Health in New York City was a success, but warn it will take some time to say for sure.
You got a new chance at life : Recipient of extremely rare face and hands transplant doing well
February 3, 2021 / 5:57 AM / AP COVID-19 puts critical medical transplants on hold
New York Almost six months after a rare face and hands transplant, Joe DiMeo is relearning how to smile, blink, pinch and squeeze.
The 22-year-old New Jersey resident had the operation last August, two years after being badly burned in a car crash. I knew it would be baby steps all the way, DiMeo told The Associated Press recently. You ve got to have a lot of motivation, a lot of patience. And you ve got to stay strong through everything.
Joe DiMeo plays ball with his dog Buster in the backyard of his house in Clark, N.J., last Thursday, six months after an extremely rare double hand and face transplant. “In the future, I have a lot more plans for myself,” he said. “You got a new chance at life. You really can’t give up.” (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
MANHATTAN (AP) Almost six months after a rare face and hands transplant, Joe DiMeo is relearning how to smile, blink, pinch and squeeze.
The 22-year-old New Jersey resident had the operation last August, two years after being badly burned in a car crash.