Double hand transplant restores function for Hempa Posse

Hempa Posse became Sweden’s second recipient of a double hand transplant last year. In an interview with SVT, he describes the difficult rehabilitation and his doubts before the operation.

Posse had both arms and legs amputated after developing sepsis in 2015. During the amputation, hand surgeons at Södersjukhuset told him that a hand transplant might be possible.

After 10 years of waiting and preparation, he received a call while playing golf in August 2025. A recently deceased man of the same age had become a suitable donor, and his family had understood his wishes about donating his hands as positive.

“My heart was probably racing when they called,” Posse said. He was nervous about the risks of such a long operation and about leaving his 13-year-old daughter for what would be a difficult procedure.

After 19 hours on the operating table at Södersjukhuset in Stockholm, Posse became Sweden’s second double hand transplant recipient. He could move his fingers and grip a ball shortly after the operation.

The rehabilitation has been demanding and slow. As an amputee, Posse had learned to manage with his arm stumps. He now has to learn how to live with hands again.

“With the stumps, I could write quite well on a computer and mobile phone. With hands, it is still more difficult,” he said.

At first, Posse felt even more disabled with his new hands. But a year after the transplant, with daily training, his function has improved and he is beginning to regain sensation. He can grip a glass and pick up objects from the ground.

“There has been some doubt, but now I feel that having the hand transplant was absolutely the right choice,” he said.