Amputee dad speaks of first "strange" hug with daughters after double hand transplants
SWNS
2023-03-03
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An amputee dad has told of his of first "strange" hug with his daughters after double hand transplants - which he's now had tattooed to match the rest of his arms.
Jamie Mines, 39, was thrown 13ft from a half-finished metal roof when 33,000 volts of electricity surged through a tin sheet he was holding, in 2016.
The scaffolder spent ten weeks in intensive care supported by twin daughters Savannah and Isabella, who were five-months-old at the time.
Jamie lost all of his limbs - but six years on received a double hand transplant and hugged his little girls for the first time.
He's now also had the hands tattooed so they match the rest of his already-inked arms.
Jamie from Frome, Somerset said: "Holding their hands and taking them to school it is lovely - there are so many things I can do with them now.
"It is weird for them. They were five-months-old when I lost my limbs and they have always known me without.
"Now they don't really think about it. They found it strange at first as I have never had hands before.
"It's beautiful. It should have always been like that.
"I never thought I would be able to do it again - it's very special."
Jamie's life changed in December 2016, while working for Boundary Scaffolding.
He was thrown 13ft from a half-finished metal roof when 33,000 volts of electricity surged through a tin sheet he was holding.
The talented footballer of 17 years spent ten weeks in intensive care with some of that time spent in an induced coma.
The 39-year-old father of twin girls had his right leg, left leg, and both hands amputated as a result of his injuries.
Jamie was fitted with prosthetics and was able to cook, clean and drive.
But in March 2022 he had a double hand transplant and is on the "long road" to recovery.
The operation took 13 hours and involved 30 people.
Jamie said: "I went from going to sleep with no hands to having hands.
"I have started a new journey. I couldn't move them at first.
"I thought I had figured out life but then at 33 I had to learn everything again.
"It has been a massive challenge.
"I am back at the gym, playing golf, and driving again.
"It has really improved my self-esteem."
In October 2022, a few months after his transplant, Jamie got his hands tattooed to make them feel more his as he has a number of tattoos across his body.
Jamie had to ask permission from specialists in case the tattoo would damage the skin or risk infection.
He said: "I had to ask permission from the surgeon, and he said 'go on have a small one' but they are both the size of my hand.
"They have healed nicely. I wanted my hands to match my arms."
In October 2017 his former firm, Boundary Scaffolding Ltd, was fined £80,000 and its director Jonathan Griffiths-Clack was handed a six-month sentence, suspended for 12 months.
Jamie said: “This result means me and my family can move on with our lives.
“It's been astonishing how quickly this has happened but it's such a relief to have this kind of support.
"I've got my sights set on being a Paralympic athlete.
Jamie Mines, 39, was thrown 13ft from a half-finished metal roof when 33,000 volts of electricity surged through a tin sheet he was holding, in 2016.
The scaffolder spent ten weeks in intensive care supported by twin daughters Savannah and Isabella, who were five-months-old at the time.
Jamie lost all of his limbs - but six years on received a double hand transplant and hugged his little girls for the first time.
He's now also had the hands tattooed so they match the rest of his already-inked arms.
Jamie from Frome, Somerset said: "Holding their hands and taking them to school it is lovely - there are so many things I can do with them now.
"It is weird for them. They were five-months-old when I lost my limbs and they have always known me without.
"Now they don't really think about it. They found it strange at first as I have never had hands before.
"It's beautiful. It should have always been like that.
"I never thought I would be able to do it again - it's very special."
Jamie's life changed in December 2016, while working for Boundary Scaffolding.
He was thrown 13ft from a half-finished metal roof when 33,000 volts of electricity surged through a tin sheet he was holding.
The talented footballer of 17 years spent ten weeks in intensive care with some of that time spent in an induced coma.
The 39-year-old father of twin girls had his right leg, left leg, and both hands amputated as a result of his injuries.
Jamie was fitted with prosthetics and was able to cook, clean and drive.
But in March 2022 he had a double hand transplant and is on the "long road" to recovery.
The operation took 13 hours and involved 30 people.
Jamie said: "I went from going to sleep with no hands to having hands.
"I have started a new journey. I couldn't move them at first.
"I thought I had figured out life but then at 33 I had to learn everything again.
"It has been a massive challenge.
"I am back at the gym, playing golf, and driving again.
"It has really improved my self-esteem."
In October 2022, a few months after his transplant, Jamie got his hands tattooed to make them feel more his as he has a number of tattoos across his body.
Jamie had to ask permission from specialists in case the tattoo would damage the skin or risk infection.
He said: "I had to ask permission from the surgeon, and he said 'go on have a small one' but they are both the size of my hand.
"They have healed nicely. I wanted my hands to match my arms."
In October 2017 his former firm, Boundary Scaffolding Ltd, was fined £80,000 and its director Jonathan Griffiths-Clack was handed a six-month sentence, suspended for 12 months.
Jamie said: “This result means me and my family can move on with our lives.
“It's been astonishing how quickly this has happened but it's such a relief to have this kind of support.
"I've got my sights set on being a Paralympic athlete.
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