Resilience and Love: Venkatesh’s Second Chance at Life with a Hand Transplant

Tell My Story

It was an emotional moment for 25 year old Venkatesh an organ transplant recipient when he introduced his wife to his transplant surgeons at Glenagles HealthCity and draped them with shawl with his new hands.

Five years ago in 2018, Venkatesh who owns a grocery store in Gudiyatham lost both his hands after a high voltage electric shock. For three years he struggled without both hands but a miraculous hand transplant surgery a year and a half ago changed his life. He was able to tie the wedding knot himself. Venkatesh told tellmystory.in “I thought my life is over. The hand transplant changed my life. I am so so happy now. I am an ambassador for organ transplant”.

Last year kind hearted parents of a brain dead 26 year old woman in Ahmedabad, Gujarat came forward to donate her hands to Venkatesh. Surgeons surgically detached her hands and flew them 1800 KM south to Chennai where they transplanted them to the waiting patient. It was an operation that worked with precision, thanks to cooperation by police, airports and hospitals.

After the transplant, Venkatesh had special visitors. The family of the brain dead person who’s hands gave him a new lease of life visited him. As he hugged them gratefully with love, they saw and felt their daughter living in him.

Venkatesh is now able to lift weights upto 5 KG and will be on lifelong immuno suppressive medication. Doctors say he will be able to do a majority of functions most of their routine work. Dr Selva Seetharaman, HOD Institute of Plastics & Reconstructive Surgery says “The level of function would depend on the level at which we have transplanted and the residual function before of. Around the world most such patients are able to perform most of mar hi their routine work”.

His long time friend N Deepika who he married last month exemplifies true love and unwavering support through challenging times. She says “Earlier he couldn’t take me out. I am so happy”.

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