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14 Jun 2011 13:54

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U.S.: Girl beats the odds, becomes a rare rabies survivor

  • unfortunateRabies is a disease that usually can’t be cured unless you’re vaccinated right after you get it. That was a problem for an 8-year-old girl in California — she contracted rabies from a feral cat and didn’t realize it. By the time her symptoms — including paralysis — were showing, it was too late.
  • fortunateDoctors placed Precious Reynolds in a medical coma and gave her antiviral medications. They didn’t have much hope for her because only two other people have ever survived the disease without the vaccines. Somehow, Precious beat the odds and survived. Definitely a story to smile about. source

19 Apr 2011 21:25

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U.S.: The only successful hand transplant video we’ll probably post today

  • Meet Emily Fennell. Five years ago, doctors amputated her hand after it was crushed in a very scary car accident that involved an open sunroof, a raised arm and a rolling vehicle. Six and a half weeks ago, a completely different set of doctors gave her a completely different hand. Here’s a clip of the 26-year-old getting used to her new hand as she goes through rehab. She’s very optimistic about her future with the new appendage. “That’s my goal — to just be able to function with it and not be able to think about it,” she said. source