In a groundbreaking medical achievement, a 15-year-old girl from Goregaon, Mumbai, has become the youngest recipient in Asia and the world’s first to successfully undergo a shoulder-level limb transplant. The extraordinary surgery was performed at Gleneagles Global Hospital, a premier transplant facility in Mumbai and Western India, marking the hospital’s 12th successful hand transplant.

The young recipient lost her right arm to electrocution in 2022. Her life took a remarkable turn after receiving a new hand from a 9-year-old brain-dead donor in Surat—making this procedure the first of its kind in India to use a pediatric organ donor for a hand transplant.

The complex 12-hour surgery was led by Dr. Nilesh G. Satbhai, Head of Plastic, Hand, and Reconstructive Microsurgery at Gleneagles Global Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, and his skilled team. Following the procedure, the teenager is set on a path to recovery and is expected to regain full movement and functionality of her new limb. The young girl is overjoyed at the outcome and looks forward to resuming her regular activities, including going back to school.

Reflecting on the ordeal that led to the transplant, it was two years ago when the teenager, then 13, was visiting her hometown of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. While playing on a terrace with her cousins, she accidentally touched an 11KV wire, suffering severe electric shock injuries. Her right arm developed gangrene and had to be amputated three times. Her left arm also sustained major wounds, leaving her with limited mobility.

With this pioneering procedure, the young girl now has a renewed lease on life, demonstrating the incredible potential of modern medical science and the compassionate act of organ donation. The successful transplant not only transforms her life but also sets a precedent for future cases, offering hope to many others in need of similar procedures.