First Bilateral Hand Transplant in a Child: Zion's Story

Zion Harvey

The youngest patient to receive a double-hand transplant is 8-year-old Zion Harvey. A 40 person medical team at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia performed an 11-hour operation to attach old and new bones. Then the medical team connected Zion's arteries, veins, muscles, tendons, and nerves.

The young boy has had trauma beyond his years yet, when he speaks he is so mature and upbeat. You almost forget he has had both hands and feet removed and has had a kidney transplant, all before the age of 8.

Watch here to see this impressive boy's interview. Zion looks forward to playing with his sister and throwing a football. Before his interview ended, he asked his relatives to stand up and he said to them, "I want to say to you guys, thank you for helping me through this bumpy road." We wish him smooth travels on the rest of his road!

Recent Posts

From Our Hands to Theirs: Partnering with Home Caregivers to Support Patients
As Nurses, we know patient care doesn’t always stop when someone leaves our unit. Many of our patients continue their recovery or ongoing care at home and that’s where home caregivers step in as...
Read More
What Your Halloween Costume Would Be… Based on Your Nursing Specialty
Halloween in the hospital may not come with haunted houses or costume parties (though sometimes a night shift feels close enough), but that doesn’t mean Nurses can’t get in on the spooky spirit! Even...
Read More
Nursing Journal Clubs Are Making a Comeback
Nursing journal clubs are making a strong comeback as more healthcare organizations recognize the need for practical, team-based learning that improves patient care. With the rapid growth of...
Read More

Subscribe to Email Our Newsletter

Education_Award_Square