Double-Arm Transplant Recipient Thrives

An undated handout photo shows transplant patient and German farmer Karl Merk riding a bicycle with his doctor Christoph Hoehnke on the back of the bike, at the hospital in Memmingen. Merk became the world's first complete double arm transplant patient, after losing both his own arms just below the shoulder in a farm accident six years ago. Doctors grafted donor arms onto the body of Merk in an operation that took 15 hours. (Reuters)

July 22, 2009: Doctors Biemer and Hoehnke sit with double arm transplant patient Merk at the hospital in Memmingen (Reuters)

July 22, 2009: Dr. Edgar Biemer checks double arm transplant German farmer Merk at the hospital in Memmingen (Reuters)

July 22, 2009: Double arm transplant German farmer Merk poses in a gym at the hospital in Memmingen (Reuters)

July 22, 2009: Double arm transplant German farmer Merk trains in a gym at the hospital in Memmingen. (Reuters)

July 22, 2009: Doctors Edgar Biemer and Christoph Hoehnke check double arm transplant patient Merk at the hospital in Memmingen. (Reuters)