Duke's first hand transplant was performed on May 27, 2016. Led by surgeon Dr. Linda Cendales, two teams worked to attach a donor hand and forearm onto the left arm of Rene Chavez, 54. Chavez, who lives in Laredo, Texas, lost his hand in an accident when he was four-years-old. Now, just a few months after surgery, and participating in daily four-hour occupational therapy sessions, Chavez is gaining the use of his new left hand
