Turkey: Double-arm transplant recipient discharged

ANTALYA, Turkey

The recipient of a double-arm transplant in southern Turkey was discharged from the hospital on Friday.

Oguz Simsek underwent the operation at Akdeniz University Hospital in Antalya, on the Turkish Mediterranean, late last November, after spending four years on a waiting list, the victim of a work accident.

“Traveling, driving a car, kissing my family's hands during the holidays, and shaking hands with my friends were my greatest dreams. I hope to do it all,” Simsek told reporters.

He said that following the operation, his life gets better every day.

Mustafa Simsek, his father, said that he was happy to see his son healthy with two arms.

“It's important that my son keeps getting better. We’re experiencing daily changes,” he added.

Shaking hands

Dr. Ozlenen Ozkan, a member of the team who performed the operation, said that Simsek has started to feel his new arms, especially in areas close to the elbow.

“This is a great development for us,” she said.

“He was a very eager patient. He even shook hands with me, he couldn't do that for a long time. He will move his arms more comfortably in a year,” she added.

Simsek lost his arms while working at a solar power installation.

The new arms came from an anonymous donor who died in an accident.

The 25-year-old was operated on by a team led by Dr. Omer Ozcan.

* Writing by Erdogan Cagatay Zontur