Hand transplant donor 'would be proud', says brother

A 23-year-old man’s hands have been grafted on to another man in the first US double hand transplant.

The operation was carried out at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre - a procedure that the donor’s brother said would have made him proud.

Jeff Keen, who died in an accident, wanted to help people, perhaps by becoming a nurse or a counsellor.

His liver, kidneys, a lung and heart went to five other people and dozens more could benefit from his donation of tissue and corneas.

Mr Keen was “in many was a pretty typical 20-something guy”, his oldest brother, college professor Daniel Rossi-Keen, said from DeLand, Florida.

“I think he would be surprised and a little amused at the stir he caused. I think he’d be probably be proud.”

Mr Keen was the youngest of four brothers and the father of a one-year-old son. His brother would not say how he died, only that it was an accident.

Mr Rossi-Keen said his brother believed strongly in organ donation, signed up to be a donor when he first got his driving licence and urged his mother to become one too.

At the funeral, Mr Rossi-Keen said his brother had “stepped into the history of medicine”.

His mother, Patty Keen, said the double hand transplant “was the first moment of joy I felt during this entire tragedy”.

Mr Keen’s hands were transplanted last week on to Jeff Kepner, 57, of Augusta, Georgia, who lost his hands and feet a decade ago to sepsis.

He continues to make progress and is expected to receive a bone marrow infusion next week, his doctor said.