Marine Vet Gets Double Arm Transplant
August 07, 2018
Marine Sgt. John Peck is one of the only recipients of a double arm transplant in the world, and it all started back in May 2010. John was searching for weapons in a building in a small village in Afghanistan when he turned and took a step toward the door to leave. This would be the last step John would ever take on his own two legs, as he stepped down on an improvised explosive device. The blast instantly claimed both legs and part of his right arm.
“I was flung through the air and felt something kick me really hard in the head,” John recalled. “I believe it was one of my legs.”
The explosion also severely damaged his left arm, which eventually also had to be amputated.
But John is a fighter. Just three years earlier, he was injured in Iraq when his vehicle was hit by an IED. John sustained an injury to his head when it made contact with the machine gun he was carrying. The injury would ultimately claim 21 years of John's memories, many of which would never return. Yet John still reenlisted to return to active duty!
But now, waking in his hospital room after two months of sedation with all his limbs gone, John, feeling very alone, suffered a moment of despair. The wounded warrior began to gravely wonder if there was still a point to his young life.
“My mom told me as calmly as she could that it was bad,” John recalled. “I felt alone and I didn’t see much hope there. I’d pretty much decided to end it all.”
John longed for a life partner, a wife, and he became saddened believing this would never happen for him. "Who would want him now?" he thought. Then he looked out his hospital window and happened to see a quadruple amputee out one day, caring for his young daughter. The man's wife came up and kissed him, and John's hope was restored. "If he can have that life, so can I!" John thought.
So John agreed to psychological and physical therapy and eventually signed up for a popular dating site. His wit and new-found optimism shining through his dating profile, John wrote things like, "I'm a blast to be around!" Jessica read John's profile and something about it just resonated with her. Jessica reached out and sent John a message. At first, he thought she must be joking--that it was too good to be true.
The two met, became a couple, and Jessica started calling John her penguin, referring to the way that penguins are said to mate for life with the male penguin actually "proposing" by giving the female a stone to seal the deal.
#happybirthday #mypenguin #mylove #alaskabirthday @quad2doubleamp
Then one day, on a trip the two took to an aquarium, John made it official, proposing to Jessica in front of the penguin exhibit. John was excited for the day he could walk down the aisle with his bride, and eagerly immersed himself in grueling physical therapy, learning to use prosthetic arms and legs.
Meanwhile, as John learned how to use prosthetic limbs and how to live his life independently, doctors approached him with another option. How would he feel about a double arm transplant? It would mean relearning everything about how to care for himself that he'd just worked so hard to learn. It would also mean that one day, John could hold the hand of the woman he loved.
John had all but given up when he finally got the call he knew would change his life forever. In August 2016, after two long years waiting for a donor, John became the second wounded veteran to receive a double arm transplant.
[caption id="attachment_56048" align="alignnone" width="1920"] credit: Military Kind[/caption]As he quickly prepared to go to the hospital for the operation, John was overjoyed until it hit home that if he was receiving this transplant, it meant that someone else was dying. “I felt terrible,” he said.
Less than 24 hours later, John was in tears on the operating table at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. After waking from the difficult 13-hour surgery, the pain was so overwhelming that he initially wanted to ask the doctors to remove the arms. But then he thought about his donor, and how he didn't want to waste the precious gift he had been given.
“Your loved one’s death will not be for nothing,” John shared at a press conference. “Every day that I look down at our new arms, I will drive on . . . and I will never give up. I will remember his selflessness and his gift until the day I die.” said John.
John endured infections and hospitalization following a bad reaction after his double arm transplant. But he did not give up hope. And then one day, a wiggle proved that everything was starting to turn around. He was able to move his fingers! First, just a little bit, and then the wiggle became more pronounced. John started to be able to see a future where his dreams could become a reality!
“I’m just grateful that I’m going to have this opportunity to be able to hold [Jessica's] hand...to possibly be able to fulfill my dreams, my lifelong dream,” John said.
Throughout this entire ordeal, John has not given up on a dream he has kept alive for a decade -- he wants to become a renowned chef. For now, John works with a nonprofit organization called Operation Green Zone, making menus for food trucks that he hopes will be run by veterans.
But eventually, John has a bigger goal in mind for his culinary skills.
“I am going to compete on next ‘Food Network Star.’ I’m going to win it. And then I’m going to open up a restaurant,” John exclaimed.
John showed thousands just how far he's come and how much closer to that goal he is when he made the first pitch at a Rockland Boulders baseball game in August 2018. The crowd cheered as this wounded warrior used his new arms to toss the ball.
But it's perhaps the more private accomplishment that really hits home. . . when this veteran was able to pen a love note to his wife for the first time. "Jess," he wrote. "Penguin loves you."
John, we'll all be praying for your continued progress, and we'll be keeping an eye on Food Network for your debut!
WATCH: Marine Vet with Double Arm Transplant Is An Inspiration
h/t: Military Kind
YOU MAY LIKE: D-Day Veteran Will Marry His Former Fiancee 70 Years After They Split
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Transforming Worry into Trust - Your Daily Prayer - October 24
Worrying does nothing to benefit our lives in any way; it only takes away. It takes away the present moments and present joy you could experience, not to mention it takes away from a peaceful life.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Transforming Worry into Trust - Your Daily Prayer - October 24
Worrying does nothing to benefit our lives in any way; it only takes away. It takes away the present moments and present joy you could experience, not to mention it takes away from a peaceful life.
Past Stories
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
- Owner's Trip to the Vet with Unwell Dog Results in the Craziest X-Ray
- After Getting Lost in Yellowstone, This Precious Cat Made His Way Back Home To California
- Mom's Funny Response To Daughter's Dirty Sock On The Floor Goes Viral & Ends Up Doing Good
- A Kidnapped Boy Is Found After 70 Years and Reunited With His Family
- This Puppy Was Found With a Note That Read 'Help Me,' Now He's Looking For a New Home
- Excited Mom Couldn't Wait to See Son's Back to School Pictures, but Funny Results Make Her LOL
- When This Police Officer Pulled Her Over, He Changed Her Life Forever
- She Just Met Her Vietnam Veteran Father After 50 Years, Now He is Walking Her Down the Aisle
- Fearless Father Waits on Porch to Catch the Stranger Peeking in His Daughter's Window
- This 5th Grade Teacher Eats Lunch In the Cafeteria Every Day
- Amy Grant Has a New Perspective After Losing Her 'Superpower' in Bike Accident
- 'God Did It' Says 18-Year-Old After Waking Up From a Coma Following a Crash
- These Four Sisters Share a Birthday, Which is Quite the Miracle
- Dad Harmony Sings a Beautiful A Cappella Rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love'
- Couple's Outstanding Boogie Woogie Dance Performance
- Siblings’ Cover of Dolly Parton’s Classic ‘I Will Always Love You’ Is Incredible
- Pastor and Wife Were Killed in a Car Accident, But Their Kids Have a Message of Hope
- Outstanding 'Amazing Grace' Cover Music Video by Celtic Woman
- Carrie Underwood Helps With Leading Worship at Tennessee Church
- 8-Year-Old Kid's To-Do List Goes Viral As a Wholesome Reminder for Us All
- 'Holy Forever' Lyric Video by Chris Tomlin and CAIN
- Elementary Teacher Talks About the Power of Words and Kindness By Using Toothpaste
- Prayers Pour in for Loretta Lynn's Family After the Death of the Late Singer's First Grandchild
- Dennis Quaid Singing 'On My Way To Heaven" is an Inspiring Performance
- Charming Elderly Couple Share Sweet Dance to 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain?"
- Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Adorably Sing a Sassy Duet to Celebrate 36 Years of Marriage
- Rory Feek Performs Beautiful Tune 'I Do' After Finding Love Again
- Driver Shows Up to Deliver Pizza to Elderly Man's House, Then Comes Back with His Lawnmower
- What Parents & Grandparents Don't Know About 'Easy' Recipe Trend Could Be Dangerous
- Nearly 1,500 Students Gather to Worship Jesus at Texas A&M Revival
- 96-Year-Old Shares the Secret to a Happy Life and His Words of Wisdom Are Truly Inspiring
- In God's Divine Timing, Wedding Ring Is Returned to Man's Widow After It's Lost for 60+ Years
- Rock Singer's Powerful Rendition of 'I Will Always Love You'
Top Music Videos
CCM Magazine Steven Curtis Chapman Shares the Heartfelt Message that Helped While Grieving His Daughter
Crowder Crowder Moving Official 'Somebody Prayed' Music Video
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Mandisa Mandisa - Shackles (Praise You)
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson 'The Cross' Powerful Lyric Video
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.