Programme Index

Discover 11,128,835 listings and 279,694 playable programmes from the BBC

Hardeep's Sunday Lunch

Series 4

Hands

Duration: 30 minutes

First broadcast: on BBC Radio 4 FMLatest broadcast: on BBC Radio 4 LW

Available for over a year

Hardeep cooks lunch with Corinne Hutton who's in line to be the first person in the UK to have a double hand transplant. Her bag is packed and the call to travel to hospital for the operation could come at any moment. Not only does Corinne not have any hands, she doesn't have any feet either. They were amputated two years ago after what she thought was a bad cough turned into pneumonia and eventually septicaemia. Though doctors saved her life, they couldn't save her hands and feet. She's focused on regaining her health and as much independence as possible, living alone with her young son.

Since her illness, Corinne has been busy with her own physiotherapy and treatment and also raising money and helping other people who have experienced life changing trauma through her charity, Finding your Feet. She is hoping new hands will enable her to do even more - but things will get worse before they get better, as her lunch companion, Mark Cahill helps explain. Mark had a hand transplant two years ago. He's really pleased with the results but it is a slow process and takes time to gain sensations and dexterity. He can't yet hold a knife and fork but is able to feel pain and hot and cold. Corinne decided to agree to have a hand transplant after meeting Mark who allayed some of her fears. She's going to become very dependent after her transplant as she will not be able to use her forearms at all for months. She believes she has coped with a lot worse and is focused on the end result. Ultimately she says, "I want to hold my son's hand again."

Producer: Phil Pegum. Show less

About this data

This data is drawn from the data stream that informs BBC's iPlayer and Sounds. The information shows what was scheduled to be broadcast, meaning it was/is subject to change and may not be accurate. More