Mumbai, January 21, 2026: In a rare and clinically significant instance of organ donation, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai, performed a bilateral hand transplant using hands received through cadaveric donation, after the family of a 50-year-old woman consented to donate her organs following her death. The transplant restored functional hand use to an 18-year-old male recipient. Along with her hands, the donor’s lungs, liver, and corneas were also donated, enabling multiple transplants across hospitals in Mumbai and Surat.

 

The recipient, Priyank Aghera (18), the son of a farmer from Rajkot, Gujarat, had lost both hands in a tragic farm accident in January 2024 while assisting his father during cotton harvesting. A branch became lodged in a tractor blade and, when the blades restarted, he sustained severe crush injuries that were beyond salvage, leading to amputation of both hands. As an aspiring electrical engineering student, the loss abruptly altered his education, independence, and daily life.

 

 

The 13-hour bilateral transplant was carried out on January 9–10, 2026, following rapid coordination between transplant teams and civic authorities in Maharashtra and Gujarat. The donor's hands were retrieved in Surat and brought to the operating theatre in Mumbai within just over two hours. The recipient was taken into surgery at 10:30 PM on January 9, the procedure continued overnight, and the transplant was completed successfully. The patient is currently under close monitoring with a structured plan for recovery, wound care and rehabilitation.

 

 

Priyank Aghera (the patient/recipient) said, “After the accident, the doctors in Gujarat who amputated my hands told us there is still hope and advised us to meet Dr Satbhai. He was extremely compassionate and explained the procedure, risks and recovery in detail. I’ve waited more than 13 months for this day, and it still feels unreal. I know the journey ahead will be tough, but I’m hopeful that I will regain my independence and the courage to think about my future again. 

 

Priyank’s father Dinesh Aghera, said, “We explored options in different cities, but Dr Satbhai had performed the maximum successful surgeries. Priyank showed great courage, even losing 20–30 kg over the year to be fit for surgery. We cannot thank the donor family enough for offering our son a chance to return to his studies, stand on his own feet again, and build a bright future.”