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In This Issue:
Two years, three months and 25 days.
Steve Nash has counted the days since his sister, Charla Nash, was mauled by a chimpanzee in 2009. “During this time, she fought hard, at first for her life, and then to recover physically and emotionally,” he told the public during a press conference at BWH on June 10.
Nash’s wish for another major step in her recovery was recently fulfilled at BWH when she received a full face transplant, a gift her brother says will enhance her quality of life. In addition to a face transplant, the surgical team, led by Bohdan Pomahac, MD, also performed a double hand transplant. The hands failed to thrive and were subsequently removed.
“To be in that OR and witness the precision with which each element of the grueling 20 hours of surgery was executed was awe-inspiring,” said Elof Eriksson, MD, chief of Plastic Surgery. “This talented team took up the challenge to fulfill Charla’s wish to receive a new face and two hands.”
A few days after surgery, Nash developed pneumonia and, as a result, became septic. Her blood pressure dropped, causing blood flow to the hands to be compromised.
“After several days of doing everything possible to retain the hands, it was clear that they were not thriving, so we removed them,” said Pomahac, the director of BWH’s Burn Center and Plastic Surgery Transplantation Program.
The surgical team was inspired by Nash’s courage. “To us, she is not the woman who was mauled by the chimpanzee,” Pomahac said. “To us, she is a courageous, strong person who inspired the team to want to do everything possible, using our collective expertise, to restore her quality of life.”
Nash told Pomahac that she had not attended her daughter’s high school graduation because she was fearful her presence would take attention away from the graduation and her daughter’s achievement. Pomahac said he is hopeful this operation will enable her to attend Brianna’s college graduation.
Her new face is, according to her brother, “perfect.”
“It’s amazing to see,” Nash said. “Dr. Pomahac, the nurses and the entire transplant team and staff here helped her by performing the miraculous hand and face transplants. Because of them, we are confident Charla will regain her goal of independence and health in the future. We are impressed every day by their incredible care and concern.”
The Nash family is especially thankful for the family of the organ donor. “We thank the donor and the family – we mourn the loss of the loved one and share in your sadness,” Nash said. “Thank you for your precious gift.”
The transplant is the third full face transplant performed this spring at BWH. It is the first time the hospital performed a hand transplant.
Watch Dr. Pomahac's Remarks >>
Watch Steve Nash's Remarks >>
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