Arm transplant recipient says he can now hold fiancee's hand

(Courtesy John Peck and his fiancee/Brigham and Women's Hospital)

(Courtesy Brigham and Women's Hospital)

RELEASE DATE: 20160901, September 1, 2016, Boston, MA, USA; Brigham and Women's Hospital Plastic Surgery Transplantation Program, in coordination with the hospital's entire transplant team, and the New England Organ Bank, worked throughout an entire day to replace both forearms of USMC Sgt. John Peck (Ret.) in a bilateral mid-forearm transplant procedure, the fourth of it's kind for the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston MA. The hand and forearm transplant team, led by plastic surgeon Dr. Simon Talbot, MD, began the pair of surgical procedures shortly after 12 noon and the doubly transformed John Peck was transported to the tower ICU floor for recovery before 3 a.m. the following day. ( lightchaser photography Â© 2016 ) DATE EMBARGOED ARCHIVES OUT (Courtesy Brigham and Women's Hospital)

A former Marine sergeant who underwent a double arm transplant at a Boston hospital says the best things about having arms again is that he can hold his fiancee's hand and pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a chef.

(Courtesy Brigham and Women's Hospital)

John Peck started by thanking the anonymous donor during a news conference Wednesday at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

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His arms are scarred and move awkwardly but his doctors say he is making progress and they expect nine to 12 months of rehabilitation.

(Courtesy Brigham and Women’s Hospital)

Peck lost his legs and left arm when he stepped on a homemade bomb in Afghanistan in May 2010. He later lost the other arm because of an infection.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, hand and arm transplants have been performed on more than 85 people around the world.