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David F. Savage, a 54-year-old Bay City, Michigan resident⁽¹⁾, saw his new right hand for the first time on Friday, Dec. 1, when doctors removed a large mass of⁽²⁾ bandages⁽³⁾. Savage underwent⁽⁴⁾ a 15-hour hand transplant⁽⁵⁾ on Nov. 29, when a team of 34 surgeons⁽⁶⁾ from Kleinert Kutz and University of Louisville performed⁽⁷⁾ the innovative procedure⁽⁸⁾ at Jewish Hospital Hand Care Center. The group of surgeons also performed the world’s first⁽⁹⁾ successful hand transplant in 1999 and another in 2001.

As the hand was unwrapped⁽¹⁰⁾, Savage, said he had forgotten how heavy a hand was compared to the cable hook prosthesis⁽¹¹⁾ he had been wearing for more than 30 years following the loss of his hand in an industrial accident⁽¹²⁾.A man of few words⁽¹³⁾, Savage said, “cool⁽¹⁴⁾” seeing his hand for the first time. His wife Karen whispered⁽¹⁵⁾ “very cool.” Savage was also able to move his wrist and fingers.

Following the removal of the bandages, lead hand surgeon⁽¹⁶⁾ Warren C. Breidenbach with Kleinert Kutz said, “The first 48 hours were crucial⁽¹⁷⁾ with this type of procedure. The hand looks good. We have a home run here⁽¹⁸⁾. To be moving his new hand this early, that is unbelievable.”