Youngest Double-Hand Transplant Patient Wants To Play Football

The world's youngest double-hand transplant patient has told how his next goal is to convince his mother to let him play football.

Speaking during a briefing at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia just over a year since undergoing the intricate 10-hour operation, Zion Harvey said he was getting used to life with his new hands.

"I feel happy about my new hands, and I don't feel different," he said. "I like now that I can throw a football further than when I didn't have hands."

Zion, from Baltimore, had his hands and feet amputated seven years ago after suffering a serious bacterial infection. He has prosthetic legs, allowing him to walk, and has been going through extensive rehabilitation since the transplant in July last year.

He showed off his new skills by throwing out the first pitch at a Baltimore Orioles baseball game earlier this month.

His mother, Pattie Ray, said it was a "dream" to see her son so happy and she will support him in achieving anything he wants to. However, a football career might be a bit too much.

"It's his dream, but it's mine, too," she said of his new hands. "I'm just living through him, and I'm just here to support him in any way and help him do whatever it is that he wants to do, if it's a baseball - not a football. Just a baseball."

"My next goal: convince Mom to let me play football," said Zion, pointing out he'd be playing against children, not professionals, to his protective mother.

Dr Scott Levin, team leader of Zion's surgery, said the brave youngster had coped with the surgery better than many adults handle simpler procedures.

"I've never seen Zion cry," he said. "I've never seen him not want to do his therapy. He's just a remarkable human being, let alone child or adult. He has such courage and determination and gives us all inspiration."

Zion said his wisdom comes "from the two most amazing people: my mom, and my grandmom," warning his mother: "Don't start tearing up."