Six years ago, a Baltimore five-year-old, suffering from a life threatening bacterial infection causing multi organ failure, had both his hands and feet amputated. Today, Zion Harvey, now eight, has made history after being selected as the first child to get a bilateral hand transplant. Viewed as an excellent candidate because of a prior kidney transplant received from his mother Pattie, Zion was given the greatest gift: two new hands.
Through watching the 13-minute video released last week by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where Zion completed the 11-hour surgical procedure in early July, you can’t help but smile along with Zion as he delivers his story. During the video, Zion’s doctors boast about his refreshing intelligence. His mother describes how he’s prevailed the unthinkable. Zion even states, while being pushed outside the medical facility in a wheelchair, how his grandmother even said that he is smarter than a lot of grownups. Despite all that, this small eight-year-old has endured. There’s no stopping his positive outlook on life. Here are six things that I personally believe that we can all learn from Zion Harvey:
1. Start every day making the most of what you got.
Even with no hands, something that we often take for granted, Zion dodges the unthinkable. Throughout the video you can see him playing foosball, scrolling through a cellphone, and strumming on a guitar in the backseat of a car. While eating lunch with his mom he uses both of his arms to maneuver a fork across his plate. All of which he can do with ease. Obviously, participating in these everyday activities would be much simpler with two hands to do the job, but Zion doesn’t utter one complaint. He truly makes the most of what he has.
2. Every part of you, inside and out, is beautiful.
In the video Zion is shown holding up a variety of skin colors, debating between two shades for his new hands. “I will be proud of what I get, and if it gets messed up, I don’t care because I have my family,” he proudly states. Zion fully understands the opportunity that’s been given to him and recognizes that if it doesn’t work out, he’ll still be okay. He has a lot of other things to be thankful for.
3. Be brave no matter the circumstance.
Zion’s surgery consisted of a 40-person team, an 11-hour procedure, and multiple connections of his bones, arteries, veins, blood vessels, tendons, and skin, plus the restoration of blood flow. Seen being wheeled through the hallways of the hospital on a gurney, Zion continues to carry a smile on his face. Though the surgery lasted roughly from 5:30 pm to 4:30 am, with the additional pressure of being the first child to undergo this bilateral hand transplant, Zion maintains a brave face, putting to rest that if he can conquer this, he can conquer anything.
4. Say thanks to the people who deserve it most.
Watch the video footage of Zion Harvey asking his family to stand up at a press conference last Tuesday regarding the success of his new hands, and try not to get tears in your eyes. “I want to say to you guys, thank you for helping me through this bumpy road,” the eight-year old proclaims, following the public news of the Children’s Hospital’s victory. Later, when asked why he made such a gracious gesture, he responded by telling a reporter that he just really wanted them to feel appreciated. If a child can remember to say thank you to all the people that stood by his side and cared for him when he needed it most, you can too, thank the ones around you for their love and support.
5. Always have hope.
The process following the surgery will most likely be just as difficult and intense for Zion as the actual procedure. Like with any transplant, Zion’s hands face the possibility of being rejected, making him a life-long patient. Along with the needed therapy sessions where he will learn how to use his new hands, Zion will also be put on immune suppressing drugs to defer rejection. Despite the fact that this process is just beginning, Zion maintains hope for the future. When one of his doctors asked him why he wanted the new hands in the first place, Zion stated that he just wanted to play on the monkey bars. His other wishes include throwing a football, being able to lift his little sister Zoe, and to get a puppy, that he says will live in his room. Zion ends one interview advising the television viewers to “Never give up on your dreams. They will come true.”
Zion Harvey has proved to be an inspiration to anyone, no matter his or her age. At just eight-years old, there’s no doubt in my mind that he is an intelligent young boy with a bright future ahead of him. Not only was he the first child to receive a double hand transplant, but he has also paved a path for future children to sustain the same procedure. Through his gratitude to his family members, bravery throughout the long endured process, and immense positivity for the future, Zion offers a lot of valuable life lessons. He discloses at the end of the video that he’s the same person he used to be, just with “cool new hands,” reminding us all that anything can be conquered with a smile.
