Amrita Hospital, Kochi successfully performed a hand transplant on a 47-year-old man who lost his right hand in a firecracker accident during the New Year celebrations of 2025. Kishore, a native of Perunad in Pathanamthitta district, lost his right hand in the accident on January 1, 2025. After months of uncertainty and recovery, he has now regained the use of a hand through a transplant made possible by the organ donation of P. Ayyappan (75), a former ISRO officer, who was declared brain dead following a road accident.
Ayyappan had sustained serious injuries in a bike accident on February 5 while returning from a temple visit. He was admitted to Amrita Hospital, Kochi, where he was declared brain dead on February 9. In a deeply compassionate decision taken during a time of grief, his children Dhanya and Dhanesh consented to donate his organs. Dhanya, who works at the blood bank of Amrita Hospital, was aware of the importance and impact of organ donation, which helped strengthen the family’s decision to give others a new chance at life.
The hand transplant surgery was a highly complex procedure lasting about 18 hours. The surgery was led by renowned plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Subrahmanya Iyer, who had earlier led India’s first hand transplant surgery. The surgical team also included Dr. Kishore P. and Dr. Sam Thomas. The organ donation process was coordinated through the government agency K-SOTTO.
Doctors said the surgery was successful and Kishore responded well to treatment. After undergoing a month of post-operative care and rehabilitation at Amrita Hospital, he was discharged on Thursday. Dr. Subrahmanya Iyer stated that this marks the 22nd hand transplant surgery performed across Amrita Hospital campuses in Kochi and Faridabad, further strengthening the institution’s leadership in complex transplant procedures.
For Kishore, the transplant represents not just medical success but the return of independence and hope. The noble decision taken by Ayyappan’s family has given him a renewed opportunity to rebuild his life.
