Hector Salas endured nine hours of surgery Tuesday and emerged sporting a new ring finger.
The 6-year-old underwent a procedure that removed a toe from his foot and added a finger to one of his hands, which only had a thumb and “nubbins.”
Recommended Stories
Complications usually surface within the first five days following surgery, and the first 24 hours hold the most danger, said Dr. James Higgins, a surgeon who performed the operation at Union Memorial Hospital?s Curtis National Hand Center.
“He?s made it through the highest risk period,” Higgins said.
“We should know by the end of the weekend if the hand is going to accept the toe.”
“Yesterday he was sleeping the whole day. He?s feeling less pain today,” Hector?s father Luis Salas said.
“They are checking his hand every hour, to test the blood and see the color of his finger.”
Doctors removed the second toe from Hector?s foot, allowing him to retain his balance.
“He should be able to sprint and run and play sports,” Higgins said.
The elder Salas said Hector will leave the hospital in a week, and they will stay with family in Pennsylvania until Hector finishes his weekly therapy sessions at Union Memorial in mid-April.
