Mother-of-two has double hand transplant after losing them to blood poisoning

Carla, 52, is being attended to by Massimo Del Bene (right), head of the reconstructive surgery department at Monza's San Gerardo hospital

A 52-year-old housewife is recovering in hospital after having a rare double hand transplant in Italy.
Carla Mari, a mother-of-two from Busto Arsizio, had both her hands and feet amputated in 2007 due to severe blood poisoning.

Carla underwent a six-hour operation to have new hands attached. They are reported to have come from a 58-year-old donor 

In 2008, Carla asked for her prosthetic hands to be replaced but had to wait for advances in surgical techniques before her wish could be granted.
A request for donor hands was made to the Italian Ministry of Health last spring, after it was approved it was simply a case of waiting for an appropriate donor.
The six-hour operation took place on Monday evening at the San Gerardo hospital in Monza after donor hands from a 58-year-old woman became available.
The surgery was led by the head of the reconstructive surgery department Massimo Del Bene.

A spokesman said: 'The patient is in 'good condition' but the prognosis will be reserved for another seven days until we know if she will gain use of the hands.' 
Carla showed some signs of mobility in her fingers just hours after the transplant. She will be transferred to a sterile room for 30 to 40 days before being discharged.

Massimo Del Bene (seated), head of the reconstructive surgery department at the San Gerardo hospital with his team that performed the double hand transplant

Carla will have to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of her life but said she is hoping to have a far higher quality of life.
Her operation follows just months after Dr Richard Edwards received a double hand transplant at the Jewish Hospital in Louisville, U.S.
He is said to be progressing well after complications with his right hand resulted in the need for more surgery in September.
Dr Edwards, 55, has daily hand therapy and can move his wrist and each finger and make partial fist with both hands.

He said: 'Every single day that I have therapy, I see improvement.
'I look forward to it every day and I always think ‘I am so glad to be here.'