A 40-year-old ex-professor who fell victim to an aggressive streptococcus, which eventually led to an infection and caused him to suffer from sepsis, had to undergo a quadruple amputation to save his life in 2011. He not only had to let go of both his arms and legs, but also his dreams of becoming a filmmaker. This year, however, he had been granted the opportunity to possibly pursue his aspirations once again.
Will Lautzenheiser was approved to be one of the recipients of a rare bilateral transplant in the early parts of this year. The procedure was said to have required the expertise of 35 clinicians comprised 13 surgeons. The surgery, which was done at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital, took roughly nine hours.
At present, Lautzenheiser can already feel minor sensations in his newly attached arms. He could also detect sensation right under his skin. However, he still has to undergo therapy to final be able to move his new arms easily.
"If I really focus, I can occasionally move my thumb just a little bit, a few millimeters. It bends. I can pronate and supinate my wrist on my right arm. I have a little bit of wrist motion, a little bit of forearm motion," the 40-year-old former Boston University and Montana State University film production and screenwriting professor described.
The arms attached to Lautzenheiser had been donated anonymously. However, the donor's family sent a statement on Tuesday sharing their wish for the patient to go through a "wonderful recovery, and that your loved ones will be able to enjoy your warm embrace."
"I hope to be able to live up to the memory of this man and make this worthwhile," Lautzenheiser shared in response to the donor's family's statement. "This person who is anonymous to me will always be as close to me as my own skin now, and it's really an incredible gift," he added.
Lautzenheiser's brother, Tom, also echoed the gratitude their family felt for the donor. He described the surgery as a "wondrous thing" and asserted that his brother's recovery "wouldn't be possible without the generosity of the donor and the donor's loved ones."
Tom also shared how much he looked up at his brother who managed to surpass all obstacles despite his disabilities. "Will is not unique in having challenges, but it's how we respond to challenges that defines our character and shapes our world," he shared.
Lautzenheiser will still be undergoing months of therapy to actually be able to gain full sensation and muster the use of his new arms. At present, however, he appeared to have took to heart the advice given by the donor's family as he shared a warm embrace with his partner, Angel Gonzalez.
"To be able to hold my love in my arms again is really the best," he said.
