An American man has undergone the world’s first successful face and double hand transplant from the same donor. After a car accident, Joe DiMeo, who was left disfigured, received the transplant in August at NYU Langone Health Centre in New York after undergoing a gruelling 23-hour operation.
The surgery was conducted by 16 doctors and was carried out between two operating theatres. More than 120 other health care professionals also took part.
Today, when the Mirror spoke to Joe he offered a message of support over what hope his historic operation should give to people in the UK and rest of the world who are where he once was. "There is always light at the end of the tunnel.
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