Arm Transplant Patient Gives Finger To Rejection Concerns

A man who received two replacement arms in a transplant last month remains optimistic, despite his body showing signs of rejecting the new limbs. Yesterday he demonstrated his positive spirit by releasing a video of himself in his hospital bed, persuading his new hand to pick his nose.

Guðmundur Felix Grétarsson lost both arms in 1998 when he was electrocuted while working as an electrician. He received the transplant in France last month, and has since been recovering in a Lyon hospital.

Last week his body developed some red spots which indicate transplant rejection, Frettablaðið reports. However Guðmundur is unconcerned, and has faith in his medical team. “This is nothing to worry about. They expected this, and know what to do,” he said.

Towards the end of February, Guðmundur will be transferred to a rehabilitation hospital, where he expects to be for several months. He said that it is best that the rejection happened before the transfer, and that he feels well and increasingly more energetic.

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