8-year-old boy has successful double hand transplant, talks of big plans

Zion told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he wants to do activities that any other child does, like climb monkey bars, throw a football and play a guitar.

He may even become a doctor himself someday.

But, Zion is no stranger to hospitals.

When he was 2, the Inquirer reported, Zion contracted a life-threatening bloodstream infection. His hands and feet were amputated and he had to go on dialysis. When he was 4, Zion had a kidney transplant from his mother.

Then at 6, Zion's mother contacted Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia and learned about The University of Pennsylvania's hand transplant program. Shriners specializes in prosthetics for children, like the ones he wears on his legs.

At that point, no child had ever had a single hand transplant, let alone two. But he was the perfect candidate; he was already on drugs for his kidney transplant.

The process started a year and a half ago, the surgical team's leader L. Scott Levin said.

In April, Zion was put on a waiting list, knowing it may take up two years for the perfect hands to become available. But only three months later, Zion had the life changing, 11 hour surgery with the help of dozens of doctors and nurses, The Associated Press reported.

Zion still faces months of physical rehabilitation and learning to use his new hands, which will grow with him. It will also take about two years for the nerves to fully regenerate, giving Zion full feeling.

When asked about the donor, he has mixed feeling telling the Inquirer that the child's loss made his gain possible.