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2 Years After Double Arm Transplant, Boston Man Is Thriving

Five years ago, when he was 37 years old, the unthinkable happened to Will Lautzenheiser. He lost both arms and both legs to a devastating bacterial infection.

But then two years ago, Lautzenheiser got what he calls an incredible gift: a double arm transplant.

Those two years have been full of daily hospital visits, and hours and hours of hard, tedious work, to get the arms working. But now, Will can turn a doorknob, feed himself, write with a pen and feel the rain on his hands.

Here & Now‘s Robin Young visits Will, and his partner Angel Gonzalez, at their home in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Will Lautzenheiser and his partner Angel Gonzalez at their home in Brookline, Mass. (Samantha Fields/Here & Now)
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Will Lautzenheiser and his partner Angel Gonzalez at their home in Brookline, Mass. (Samantha Fields/Here & Now)
One of Will Lautzenheiser's transplanted arms. (Robin Young/Here & Now)
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One of Will Lautzenheiser's transplanted arms. (Robin Young/Here & Now)

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Federal funding is gone.

Congress has eliminated all funding for public media.

That means $2.1 million per year that Connecticut Public relied on to deliver you news, information, and entertainment programs you enjoyed is gone.

The future of public media is in your hands.

All donations are appreciated, but we ask in this moment you consider starting a monthly gift as a Sustainer to help replace what’s been lost.