Oviedo, 16 feb (EFE).-Angel, a 45 years Gijon has today received discharge from hospital sixteen days after transplantation of forearm, has thanked the family of the donor and the surgeons “miracle” and described: “When I saw him I was amazed, I finally have a hand already, was impressive”.
Angel was welder and four years ago lost both arms to touch a high voltage cable while working on the power of La Felguera, as he pointed out at a press in the Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA).
In this hospital the night of January 31-February 1 – managed during eleven hours of surgery with eighteen surgeons led by Dr. Daniel Camporro – fourth transplantation of upper limb in Spain, after two that made Pedro Cavadas in Valencia and another in Barcelona.
“To scratch me the face or hair, these normal things that everyone does not look, for me is a world,” said Angel to think about what you will be able to do again.
Camporro explained that, if the development continues to be positive, within three or four months will have minimum movements of prey on fingers and within ten or twelve months sensitivity and small hand movements.
In the press conference, Angel has reiterated above all thanks.
Has thus begun: “would like to thank from heart to the family of the donor, is what I have in the heart;” “second thanks to these professionals who have achieved a miracle for me, surgeons, nurses of plant, and third (thank) the support of my family unconditionally”.
Angel does not know the family of the donor (a 44-year-old man who died in Asturias), but she has insisted on getting them their message: “Eternally heartfelt thanks”.
Has added “a call to all the world becomes donor”, because it allows that “a part of yours continue to live”, and said that he was in favour of “lifetime” donations.
“I am very well and with much encouragement”, said Angel, who has come to the meeting with journalists with his left arm bandaged and in a wheelchair pushed by his wife.
Your family is “supercontenta”, said the patient, after explaining that his parents died recently and he only has his wife and a brother, apart from her relatives.
And wants to return to have mobility in one hand “to also help”.
At the end of October ended the processing to be available for transplant, donation which came three months later, when he thought “that would take longer”.
Has pointed out that it was not easy to decide to a transplant, “back into the same”, at the hospital, but that he analyzed “pros and cons” and received “all the facilities of the world” by medical teams, as he convinced him the experience of transplant patients who have fared well.
Surgeon Camporro said that after the discharge from hospital of today Angel continue with rehabilitation and physiotherapy, as well as by the service of Nephrology (of antirejection immunosuppressive treatment) and controls by the plastic surgery service, that he will skin biopsies to prevent problems.
Anastomosis of blood vessels became above the elbow.
The medical director of the HUCA, Francisco Vadillo, has stressed that “a dream has become reality” through “the work of many professionals” and “Angel has opened the hope to many others”.
