10 years ago, Matthew Scott volunteered for a hand transplant program starting at a hospital in Kentucky. He'd lost his left hand in a fireworks accident... And was hoping to replace it.
He was picked as the first candidate.
Scott smiles as he says, "It was a million-to-one shot, and I was lucky enough to make it."
On January 24th, 1999 surgeons gave him a new hand.
But his doctors weren't sure what to expect.
Scott says, "They were hopeful for a year, and they thought if we could get to 5, boy this is going to be great."
A decade later, Scott's transplanted hand is a normal part of his life.
But he vividly remembers some milestones - such as when he first moved his new fingers.
Scott says, "I just flicked the fingers, and I could.... And I rang the bell, and called the nurse, and she said good - don't do that anymore. It's only 24 hours after the surgery."
He didn't get real sensations of touch until 8 months later, when he reached into the freezer at home.
"I reached in, and I felt the waffle box, and it was cold," says Scott.
He had 3 minor rejection episodes - all controlled easily, but still a little scary.
Scott remembers, "It's ooohhhh...you hope it's never going to happen, but I don't think there's a solid organ transplant in the world that doesn't have an episode of rejection."
So far, 40 people around the world have received successful hand transplants
Scott says it's a medical advance that could have very timely use.
He says, "I'm kind of more thinking about the combat wounded that are coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, and what this can do for them, because we know it works."
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has also started a hand transplant program. A 25-year old woman in South Jersey is on their list. To read more about her story.... <\a>.
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