Alicja Otap
Thirty-three year old Grzegorz (full name not disclosed) had to undergo the ground-breaking treatment after an accident at work on 23 April while using a stone-cutting machine.
The transplant was carried out on 15 May at the Centre of Oncology in Gliwice, southern Poland. “Thank you to the doctors, to whom I owe everything,” he said during a press conference at the clinic on Tuesday.
Grzegorz's sister Barbara told reporters of her joy at having her brother back at home. “It's hard to express how happy we feel that our brother can return home,” she said.
Thanking staff at the centre, she stressed that it was due to them that “our brother can live and function further.”
She added that a lunch of roast duck was waiting, courtesy of the patient's mother.
Grzegorz is still unable to speak clearly: Professor Adam Maciejewski, who led the operation, says that continued rehabilitation should remedy this.
“A period of hard work and rehabilitation is before him, but I want to thank him here today for his courage, perseverance and character.
“I also thank the family who supported him,” he said.
(nh/pg)
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