In 1998, Clint Hallam, a New Zealander who had amputated his own hand with a chainsaw, became the first man in the world to receive a hand transplant, at a hospital in Lyon, France. The limb belonged to a young motorcyclist who had died in a traffic accident. The operation was an unprecedented medical success, but a tragic human failure. Three years later, after repeated requests, his transplanted hand was removed at a clinic in London. It bothered him; he felt mentally disconnected from it.

I read in the NOW Carmen's storyCarmen, who, while traveling in the Canary Islands, suffered an infection "that caused necrosis in the tissues of her face and left her completely disabled." She couldn't speak, eat, or drink. After three unsuccessful stints in intensive care, Dr. Joan-Pere Barret, head of the Plastic Surgery and Burns Unit at Vall d'Hebron Hospital, proposed a face transplant, a difficult and cutting-edge procedure. "Now I don't mind going out, I can eat again, I can drink coffee. I'm back to living a normal life," she said.

The president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, is recovering well from the infection that has kept him hospitalized at Vall d'Hebron Hospital in Barcelona since Saturday. Doctors made the announcement on Monday. The president's diagnosis: he suffers from public osteomyelitisThe infection, caused by a common bacterium, affects the pubic bones and part of the pelvic muscles. In a statement, Vall d'Hebron Hospital explained that on Tuesday, Isla was moved from the intensive care unit (ICU) to a regular ward. There, he "will continue his treatment according to the plan prescribed by the medical team." "The President of the Generalitat had a good night, remains stable, without fever, and with a significant decrease in pain," the statement continued, adding: "His progress is favorable." Earlier that morning, in statements to Catalunya Ràdio, the head of infectious diseases at the hospital, Dolors Rodríguez, had explained that the President was "progressing well" and that he would be "ready" to be moved to a regular ward on Tuesday. "We have identified the cause of the infection. We are in the best-case scenario: although it is a rare infection, it is well-known," the doctor assured. Isla is receiving antibiotics, a treatment she will have to continue for a few weeks. Rodríguez explained that the infection she is suffering from is caused by streptococcus, specifically the bacteria. Streptococcus dysgalactiae– They are "very sensitive" to antibiotics: "A priori, we think the evolution will be favorable."

By the time he was nine, Darío had already visited several clinics throughout Valencia to treat the involuntary muscle contractions that limited his movement and almost prevented him from walking. This condition was worsening, and the professionals couldn't determine the appropriate treatment. Furthermore, the medications they prescribed caused side effects such as severe pain and even blindness. But in 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Darío's family received a call: "It changed our lives," admits Jaime López, the boy's father. The caller was Dr. Belén Pérez, head of pediatric neurology at Vall d'Hebron Hospital, who offered them the opportunity to come to Barcelona to begin treatment. The neurologist determined that Darío suffered from dystonia, a condition that, along with Parkinson's disease and essential tremor, is characterized by a movement disorder. It is common for patients with this condition to visit the Neurology and Pediatric Neurology departments of the Germans Trias i Pujol and Vall d'Hebron hospitals. In fact, the Ministry of Health has designated them as the reference centers (CSUR) in Catalonia for the surgical treatment of patients with movement disorders, whether adult or pediatric.

Manuel was admitted to Vall d'Hebron Hospital in October 2020 for tests and never left. He was 89 years old, diabetic, and had only one kidney. After taking his blood, they gave him a container to collect a urine sample and showed him where the restrooms were. Once inside, he suffered a multi-organ failure; he was large and had several chronic illnesses, which caused his instant death. However, his body was not found until two days later, after his family reported him missing and the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) reviewed the security cameras and confirmed that the man had never left the hospital. Now, after those 48 fateful hours Since the patient entered the center for a routine test until the police located the body, his family is claiming compensation of 200,508 euros from the Catalan Health Institute (ICS).