Meet the hand transplant surgeon up for Who Cares Wins Award

Описание: PROFESSOR Simon Kay successfully carried out the UK's first hand transplant in 2012 - and the pioneering plastic surgeon has been transforming the lives of his patients ever since.

Prof Kay and his team at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust have undertaken 14 further hand transplants, making the UK a world leader in this field.

Mum-of-one Corinne Hutton, 52, had a double hand transplant in 2019 and has nominated him for the Best Doctor award.

She said: “I’ll never be able to thank Professor Kay enough for the life he’s given me back.”

Corinne, who lives in Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, in Scotland with son Rory, 13, lost both her hands - and her legs below the knee – to sepsis in 2013.

She spent six years on the waiting list while a suitable donor was found before undergoing the gruelling 12-hour surgery.

Corinne, who runs a charity, Finding Your Feet, to raise awareness and support for amputees, said: “I was the first person in the UK to go on the double hand transplant waiting list but, because I’d had so many blood transfusions during my treatment, finding a match didn’t happen overnight.

“While I’ve had to do thousands of hours of rehab and physiotherapy, what Professor Kay did for me is life changing. I owe him everything.

“He’s a great surgeon and he leads a fantastic team. I expected to get around 75 percent movement and sensitivity back but in my right hand I’ve got way more.

“It’s so intricate joining every vein, muscle and bone, the work he did is just amazing.

“Now, I can hug my son and ruffle his hair, even though he’s 13 and would rather I left him alone.”

Professor Kay, 70, was inspired to go into his field by a childhood injury in which he burnt his hand.

He said: “My recovery started a lifelong fascination with hands.
“They’re vital not just mechanically but for communication and sensation. It’s incredibly difficult to live a full life without hands.

“I worked with the team that went on to perform the very first hand transplant in America in 2000 and I ended up spearheading the UK Hand Transplant centre when I moved to Leeds.

“Corinne had a long wait because she was allergic to the proteins of almost all other human beings, but we finally found a match.

“It’s obviously a hugely complex surgery involving four different surgical teams.

“We have to match bone, muscle, tissue, veins, and an entire blood supply from the donor to the recipient.

“I’m incredibly proud of the team we’ve built at Leeds though. I couldn’t believe it when I heard I was nominated.

“I know what we do is fairly unique but there are so many deserving doctors out there.”

The Sun Health brings you everything you need to know from the world of well being.

From the latest Covid-19 news, to advice and explainers from our resident experts.

Become a Sun Health Subscriber and hit the bell to be the first to know.

Read The Sun Health: https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/
Like The Sun on Facebook:   / thesun  
Follow The Sun on Twitter:   / thesun