9-year-old Zion Harvey became the first child ever to receive a double hand transplant one year ago now. Zion has gone through a year of recovery and therapy that was a “roller coaster,” but now he is thriving and happy as can be.
When asked what his favorite thing is that he can do with his new hands, Zion told Savannah Guthrie on the TODAY show, “Just being able to wrap them around my mom.”
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At 2-years-old, Harvey was diagnosed with life-threatening illness that forced doctors to remove his hands and feet. The 11-hour surgery took place last summer followed by a rigorous therapy regimen that required a lot of hard work and motivation from Zion. Because he is such a brave youngster he has been able to make an incredible recovery.
“I’m very excited, now I can do more than I imagined,” Harvey stated.
Since receiving his double hand transplant, Zion has been able to celebrate many firsts in his life including holdings hands and hugging family members. He was also already able to accomplish a lifelong dream when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Baltimore Orioles game.
Zion’s mother, Pattie Roy filmed the special event at the Orioles game and recalled barely being able to hold the camera straight because of the overwhelming emotions of the moment.
“To see him throwing that baseball just took my heart,” Patti stated. “I didn’t have a manual (for all of this), I had never been here before. As mothers, we just have to protect and fight, and that’s what I’ve been doing.”
Zion also has another group of fans in his team of doctors. Dr. Scott Levin, the director of the hand transplant program at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, stated, “We’re so proud of him. We won to get him to this point.”
Here’s to many more firsts to come in the future for Zion Harvey, his family, and his team of doctors!
To see more from Zion Harvey’s inspiring story, head over to the TODAY show’s website here.
[H/T TODAY]
