PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — A affected person from Switzerland is visiting Philadelphia and returning to the hospital that modified his life.
Texting on his telephone for the primary time in 17 years, for Luka Krizanac, is a milestone, together with with the ability to decide up a bottle of water.
“It provides me a lot pleasure to have the ability to try this fully alone,” Krizanac mentioned.
The 29-year-old from Switzerland is again in Philadelphia at Penn Drugs months after having a double-hand transplant.
“I began hoping for this as a toddler,” Krizanac mentioned.
He says when he was 12 years previous, a case of strep throat wasn’t correctly handled and become a lethal sepsis an infection.
His palms and legs have been amputated to save lots of his life. Prosthetics labored for his legs, however not his palms.
“You want your palms to outlive, you want it for essentially the most fundamental independence in life,” Krizanac mentioned.
His household turned to the town of independence and the world-renowned transplant workforce at Penn to present Krizanac his dream.
“Regaining palms after 17 years, I don’t assume there’s a larger dream than that,” he mentioned.
It took years and a protracted interruption with the pandemic, however the household moved to Philly within the fall to attend for the decision that lastly got here from the Present of Life.
Discovering hand donor is very difficult; there needs to be a match for not solely the blood kind but additionally pores and skin coloration, measurement and age.
“With [the] hand, there are a variety of buildings that should be connected,” Dr. Benjamin Chang with Penn Drugs mentioned.
Chang was a part of the Penn workforce that carried out the 10-hour surgical procedure. Now, Krizanac is slowly regaining mobility along with his new palms and may really feel cold and hot water and texture.
“I’m regaining operate each week, each month, however proper now I nonetheless want a variety of assist,” Krizanac mentioned.
Krizanac has moved again to Zurich; that is his first time again at Penn because the transplant.
Chang mentioned that because the nerves proceed to develop, Krizanac will get extra operate and feeling in his palms.
“It’s nonetheless a miracle at present to have two palms mainly as a result of I didn’t have that for nearly 17 years,” Krizanac mentioned.
As for what he would say to the donor household who helped reinvent his life, Krizanac mentioned he’s stuffed with gratitude.
“I might need them to know they modified not simply my life however my household’s life eternally, and for that, we’re deeply grateful,” he mentioned.
Trying ahead to a brand new life and grateful for his time within the Metropolis of Brotherly Love.
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