Meet the brave medical student who had a rare hand transplant to help her become a doctor – after losing limbs to meningitis
A medical student who lost limbs to meningitis has had a rare hand transplant to help her become a doctor.
Becca Heritage had been enjoying her first weeks at University of Southampton when she became ill.
Doctors later discovered she had meningitis in November 2018 – a diagnosis that would change her life forever.
Her parents were told to expect the worst – but medical staff were able to save her life by amputating both legs and most of her fingers.
She self-referred herself to undergo a hand transplant – and would go on to become the ninth person in the UK to have it done.
The operation lasted around 12 hours – a complex procedure where bones, tendons, nerves, arteries, veins, and muscles were reconnected.
The 25-year-old said: ‘I have been wanting to be a doctor for years now – it is nice to know that there will be less barriers for me.
‘It has definitely made it easier for me to take blood because I have the grip on both hands and even do something simple like putting my gloves on.’
Becca Heritage was studying at the University of Southampton when doctors discovered she had meningitis
Becca became just the ninth person in the UK to undergo a hand transplant, which saved her life
The aspiring doctor underwent several surgeries, including the amputation of several fingers in her left hand and all fingers on the right hand and the removal of dying skin
The aspiring GP was staying with a friend when she first fell ill.
Just six weeks after starting her medicine degree, Ms Heritage woke up in the night vomiting uncontrollably.
After calling 111, she was admitted to A&E at University Hospital Southampton.
Doctors gave the student anti-sickness tablets and were preparing to send her home when her condition suddenly got worse.
She developed septic symptoms – including a high fever, elevated heart rate and became confused.
‘I collapsed when I got up and then they tried to cool me down and I wasn’t cooling down enough so they took me to intensive care,’ she said.
With her organs failing and a rash on her arms and legs, she deteriorated quickly and was put into an induced coma for two weeks.
Her family were warned that she might not survive through the night.
On waking up she had no recollection of what had happened – but remembers seeing parts of her body which had turned black and patchy.
Becca added: ‘They did not look that they were going to come back properly – it was quite surreal.
‘I could not move my fingers. They were completely black with a surreal strange texture.
‘The surgeons, my family were hoping that I wouldn’t have to have all those surgeries but to me just seemed kind of obvious from the start.’
Over the next six weeks in intensive care, she underwent multiple surgeries – including the amputation of several fingers in her left hand and all fingers on the right hand and the removal of dying skin.
In January, she was transferred to Salisbury for specialist surgery, where both legs were amputated.
After just seven weeks, she had learned how to use her prosthetic legs and walk independently with them.
To replace her fingers, Becca was given cosmetic prosthetics – but she ‘hated’ them as they didn’t give her any function.
She referred herself to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – the only hospital trust in the UK to offer hand and upper limb transplantation.
Becca referred herself to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – the only hospital trust in the UK to offer hand and upper limb transplantation
Becca working in a university laboratory.
Becca said: ‘They were excited I might be a good candidate and they did all the testing for two years.
‘I went on to the list in January 2022 – and then got my call in February 2023.
‘I had had a couple of calls before that but unfortunately they hadn’t been a good donor or there was no consent given.
‘But this time they were like ‘We need you to come to Leeds – we have one’. I was really surprised.’
The operation lasted around 12 hours – a complex procedure where bones, tendons, nerves, arteries, veins, and muscles were reconnected.
She would go on to become the ninth person in the UK to undergo a hand transplant.
Becca said the hand felt like a part of her immediately – and that it resembled her original hand.
She added: ‘I was just so happy that it had finally happened – it was amazing in terms of the matching. They did such a good job.
‘It is more or less exactly my skin tone, it is exactly the same size as my hand was before – it just felt mine immediately.
‘I was just so excited to get going and moving with it and trying use it as much as possible and get my nails done.
‘It has been such a life-changer for me in so many ways and I know that it is true for so many recipients as well.’
Due to confidentiality, she was not able to find out anything about her donor before the operation – but was encouraged to write a letter to her family afterwards.
‘I got a reply which was really lovely. I found out a couple of things about my donor.
‘It was so nice to have something in my mind – like a person to thank.’
Following intensive physiotherapy, she is back to doing most things with her right hand, including cooking, doing her make-up and sketching.
‘Before my sepsis I was always right handed so it was hard to manage at first without it.
‘I have got good grip on my right side – so I can write, I can draw and I can paint with my right hand again.
‘I won’t have any problems making myself dinner, washing up and doing the house work.
Becca’s new hand, which she says has been a ‘life-changer for me in so many ways’ and even resembles her old hand
‘It is nice to not get funny looks.
‘It has been such a life-changer for me in so many ways and I know that it is true for so many recipients as well.’
Ms Heritage, who is studying to be a GP, said she had been inspired by the team at Leeds General Infirmary.
She volunteers with charity Meningitis Now to boost vaccine awareness among students and is also working to inform more people about hand transplants.
