Hands are great works of art capable of creating something wonderful. Mankind’s greatest achievements relied on the capacities of our hands. Gross motor movements allow us to pick up large objects, and fine motor motility allows us to grasp smaller things, all operated by remote control because there are no muscles in hands.
Hands have raised buildings, painted masterpieces, composed symphonies, and held a newborn child.
Just imagine how a person could cope without their hands.
Did you note the cover of my novel on the sidebar, featuring a hand? Still Rock Water is an example of a work created and written by and about a hand wearing a moonstone ring. One click will take you to Amazon to explore further. With so much competition, writers like me are struggling for sales at the moment. But on to the news story.
A pneumonia infection, Streptococcus A, led to blood poisoning. The infection, along with the drugs she needed, starved her hands and feet of blood, effectively causing gangrene. Her feet were amputated above the ankle, but doctors were able to save her wrists.
Surgery, funded by the Scottish government, is expected to take place this autumn. Ahead of her operation, which will involve four teams, Corinne has undergone psychological, as well as tissue testing.
And here's the crunch! Although the transplant team will try to find a good match, her new hands will always look different. Doctors want to make sure she is psychologically strong enough to cope with seeing a stranger's hands at the end of her arms.
The woman is expected to have some sensation from her new hands straight away, but it will take 14-16 months for the new hands to become part of her. She will also have to take immuno-suppressants for the rest of her life, which carry some health risks.
Corinne hopes her story will help to raise funds for the Finding Your Feet charity which was originally set up to raise funds for her recovery but which now helps other people who have limbs amputated.
As a young woman, Corinne has a full life ahead of her. I think she is strong enough to adapt to new body parts. Given the choice in her circumstances, I'd accept new (ugly) hands, hair sprouting from the skin and all.
'I'll be back'. How much trauma did The Terminator have when he became a cyborg?