<p>Mumbai girl Monika More, who had successfully undergone a double hand transplant procedure, the first in Western India, is back at home.</p>.<p>There was a spark in her eyes and smile in the face of the 24-year-old Monika, a resident of Kurla in Mumbai.</p>.<p>She underwent a 16-hour double hand transplant procedure successfully on 28 August, has recovered very well and is excited to get a new lease of life and will attempt to become independent after a gap of almost six years.</p>.<p>“I became emotional after the transplant as I strongly believed that I will get new hands and can fulfil my dream,” said Monika.</p>.<p>Monika lost both her hands in 2014 after falling into a deadly platform gap at Ghatkopar station on the Central Railway. She tried to use prosthetic limbs for a few months but soon realized that they are practically useless and more of a burden.</p>.<p>“Earlier, I would avoid attending functions or weddings as I couldn’t apply mehndi on my hands. But, after my hands get functional, I will apply mehndi, paint, and do activities such as eating, bathing, combing hair, and cooking on my own. I always wanted to become independent and I am happy that I will be able to do so,” she added.</p>.<p>Two years back, she was registered for Bilateral Hand Transplantation at Global Hospital, Mumbai. On several occasions, there were potential organ donors who could have donated hands for Monika.</p>.<p>But she missed the opportunities, as the donor families did not agree for hand donation. Finally, a suitable donor was identified in Chennai. A young man was brain-dead and his family generously agreed for hand donation. The donor's hands were flown in from Chennai to Mumbai by a chartered flight, and bilateral hand transplant surgery was successfully performed.</p>.<p>Dr. Nilesh G Satbhai, Consultant Plastic, Aesthetic, Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgeon, Global Hospitals, Mumbai, said, “After performing the complex procedure successfully, Monika was put on immunosuppressant medication. She was kept in the transplant ICU in a separate room, with a dedicated nurse as strict care and isolation was needed. Regular dressings were done for both the hands.”</p>.<p>According to him, Monika was able to sit up and walk with support for her arms on the third day itself.</p>.<p>“She was given physiotherapy twice a day along with breathing and shoulder exercises. She initially had a plaster slab above the elbow till the hand to support the bones, and will need splints for more than a month,” he said.</p>.<p>Dr. Satbhai added: “In the next couple of weeks, she will be asked to move her elbow as well. Her hand and fingers are expected to start moving after 3-4 months as the nerve healing and recovery happens. The muscles, tendons, and bones would also heal by then. The patient will need help with her day-to-day-activities until then. But, once the hands start functioning, and exercise and physiotherapy progress, she will be more independent. Her functional recovery will continue over the next year and a half.”</p>
<p>Mumbai girl Monika More, who had successfully undergone a double hand transplant procedure, the first in Western India, is back at home.</p>.<p>There was a spark in her eyes and smile in the face of the 24-year-old Monika, a resident of Kurla in Mumbai.</p>.<p>She underwent a 16-hour double hand transplant procedure successfully on 28 August, has recovered very well and is excited to get a new lease of life and will attempt to become independent after a gap of almost six years.</p>.<p>“I became emotional after the transplant as I strongly believed that I will get new hands and can fulfil my dream,” said Monika.</p>.<p>Monika lost both her hands in 2014 after falling into a deadly platform gap at Ghatkopar station on the Central Railway. She tried to use prosthetic limbs for a few months but soon realized that they are practically useless and more of a burden.</p>.<p>“Earlier, I would avoid attending functions or weddings as I couldn’t apply mehndi on my hands. But, after my hands get functional, I will apply mehndi, paint, and do activities such as eating, bathing, combing hair, and cooking on my own. I always wanted to become independent and I am happy that I will be able to do so,” she added.</p>.<p>Two years back, she was registered for Bilateral Hand Transplantation at Global Hospital, Mumbai. On several occasions, there were potential organ donors who could have donated hands for Monika.</p>.<p>But she missed the opportunities, as the donor families did not agree for hand donation. Finally, a suitable donor was identified in Chennai. A young man was brain-dead and his family generously agreed for hand donation. The donor's hands were flown in from Chennai to Mumbai by a chartered flight, and bilateral hand transplant surgery was successfully performed.</p>.<p>Dr. Nilesh G Satbhai, Consultant Plastic, Aesthetic, Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgeon, Global Hospitals, Mumbai, said, “After performing the complex procedure successfully, Monika was put on immunosuppressant medication. She was kept in the transplant ICU in a separate room, with a dedicated nurse as strict care and isolation was needed. Regular dressings were done for both the hands.”</p>.<p>According to him, Monika was able to sit up and walk with support for her arms on the third day itself.</p>.<p>“She was given physiotherapy twice a day along with breathing and shoulder exercises. She initially had a plaster slab above the elbow till the hand to support the bones, and will need splints for more than a month,” he said.</p>.<p>Dr. Satbhai added: “In the next couple of weeks, she will be asked to move her elbow as well. Her hand and fingers are expected to start moving after 3-4 months as the nerve healing and recovery happens. The muscles, tendons, and bones would also heal by then. The patient will need help with her day-to-day-activities until then. But, once the hands start functioning, and exercise and physiotherapy progress, she will be more independent. Her functional recovery will continue over the next year and a half.”</p>
