Miracle of double hand transplant gave me my life back

Father amazed by effects of ‘space-age’ operation

A FATHER whose hands were left ‘unusable’ due to a rare illness has been given a new lease of life after receiving what is thought to be the world’s first double hand transplant for the condition.

Steven Gallagher, 48, was diagnosed with scleroderma, an autoimmune disease that causes scarring of the skin and internal organs, after he developed an unusual rash about 13 years ago.

The condition affected areas including his nose, mouth and hands and about seven years ago, his fingers started curling in until they were in a fist position, leaving him suffering ‘horrendous’ pain.

Glasgow-based cosmetic surgeon Professor Andrew Hart, who specialises in hand surgery, then suggested the transplant to him.

Mr Gallagher, who has three daughters aged 12, 24 and 27, said: ‘My hands started to close, it got to the point where it was basically two fists.

‘My hands were unusable. I couldn’t do a thing apart from lift things with two hands.

‘I couldn’t grab anything, it was a struggle to get dressed, and things like that.

‘When Professor Hart mentioned to me about a double hand transplant, at the time I laughed and thought that’s space-age... but after thinking about it for a wee while, I spoke more to Professor

Hart, and I went down to Leeds and spoke to Professor [Simon] Kay. They were really understanding and open about what might happen, that I could lose my hands altogether, they said it was unlikely but it was a risk.

‘My wife and I spoke about it and came to the agreement to go for it.’ Mr Gallagher, from Dreghorn, Ayrshire, had to undergo psychological evaluation to ensure he was prepared for a transplant.

He underwent the 12-hour operation in mid-December last year after a suitable donor was found.

The team at Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, which performed the surgery, said it is the first time anywhere in the world that transplantation has been used for hands terminally affected by scleroderma.

Mr Gallagher said: ‘After the operation I woke up and it was quite surreal because before it, I had my hands and then when I woke up from the operation I still had hands so in my head I never really lost any hands.

‘These hands are amazing, everything has happened so quickly. From the moment I woke up from the operation I could move them.

‘It has given me a new lease of life. I’m still finding things hard just now but things are getting better every week.’ He said now there is ‘no pain at all’.

Mr Gallagher spent about four weeks in Leeds General Infirmary and now has regular visits to hospitals in Glasgow for physiotherapy. His condition is improving and although he cannot perform tasks requiring great dexterity, such as doing up buttons, he can stroke his dog, turn on the tap and fill a glass of water.

Mr Gallagher was a roof tiler and assistant contracts manager but had to stop due to his condition. He now hopes to work again once his hands have improved enough and is hugely grateful to the donor and family who made the transplant possible.

Professor Kay said: ‘This operation has been a huge team effort with input from our colleagues here in Leeds and in Glasgow. Having a hand transplant is very different from a kidney or other organ transplant, as hands are something we see every day and we use them in so many ways.’

‘Things are getting better every week’