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Texas Woman To Undergo First Double Arm Transplant In US At Brigham & Women's

BOSTON (CBS) - Brigham and Women's Hospital has just gotten approval to perform the first double arm transplant in the U.S.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports

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Katy Hayes, a Texas mom who lost all of her limbs due an infection, will receive the double transplant.

Two years ago, Hayes developed a Group-A Strep infection just four days after giving birth to her third child.

She slipped into a coma, and in order to save her life, doctors amputated her legs and most of her arms.

"Both the doctors looked at me and said that I was going to die and that we should prepare the family for my demise," Hayes recalled on Wednesday.

Hayes survived, and now has hope.

Doctors will attach donated arms to where Katy's elbows used to be.

"The bones are joined with metal plates and screws.  Next, the muscles and tendons, arteries, veins and three major nerves of the arm are joined," Dr. Simon Talbot, the lead surgeon for the procedure, explained at a news conference Wednesday.

Hayes may never get feeling or motion in her new hands, but for her, the arms will mean everything.

"I want to hug my children and hug my husband, cook food, and wipe my own bottom; things you guys take for granted," she said. "I have the determination to make these arms my own."

The surgery will be performed as soon as suitable donor arms can be located by the New England Organ Bank.

After the groundbreaking surgery is finished, Hayes will need six months of rehabilitation.

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