Photos: Before and after the hand transplants (Photo 8 of 17) - Pictures

Richard Mangino of Revere has been able to play the guitar since he received two new hands and forearms a year ago.

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff |

Mangino is now able to do chores around his home.

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff |

Revere, MA., 01/26/12, Richard Mangino, cq, lost his arms and legs ten years ago. Four months ago he got a double hand-transplant. We visit him at his home to see his progress. Photos of his grandchildren behind him. Section: Health Science, Reporter: Liz Kowalski Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Richard Mangino was the patient in a historic hand transplant operation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He lost his arms and legs 10 years ago to a bloodstream infection.

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff |

Now, four months since the transplant, he says he still has pain in his arms at times.

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff |

However, Mangino has started to play the piano again.

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff |

Mangino takes a look at a calender that includes some of his old artwork, which he hasn't started to do again.

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff |

Mangino often spends two hours a day working with his hands on fine motor skills.

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff |

Mangino works with weights at home for hours at a time.

Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff |

Richard Mangino's new hands belonged to Steven Lloyd (above with his wife, Jodi), who died of a brain hemorrhage.

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Troy, NH - 1-24-12 - Jodi Lloyd (cq) at her home with her sons l-r Cullen (cq) and Carson (cq). Her husband Steven's hands have been used in a double-handed transplant last fall at Brigham and Woman's Hospital. (Globe staff photo / Bill Greene) section:H&S, topic: 02hand

Jodi Lloyd at her home with her sons Cullen, 11, and Carson, 5. She said she wanted to make the decision about her husband's hands on her own, without seeking the opinions of family and friends.

Bill Greene/Globe Staff |

Troy, NH - 1-24-12 - Jodi Lloyd (cq) at her home. Her husband Steven's hands have been used in a double-handed transplant last fall at Brigham and Woman's Hospital. (Globe staff photo / Bill Greene) section:H&S, topic: 02hand

“Why let these hands go to waste?" thought Jodi Lloyd, recalling her decision to donate her husband's hands. “Steven’s talents were in his hands. It just made sense to me."

Bill Greene/Globe Staff |

Prior to his amputations, Richard Mangino was an avid guitar player.

Courtesy of the Mangino family |

After the amputations, Richard Mangino lived for years with a prosthetic arm.

Kay Lazar |

In October, a team of more than 40 surgeons, nurses and support staff at Brigham and Women's Hospital worked for more than 12 hours performing a bilateral hand transplant on Mangino.

LIGHTCHASER PHOTOGRAPHY |

for Health Science - 15arms - Carole Mangino and her husband, Richard Mangino, following the bilateral hand transplant at Brigham And Women's Hospital. (Courtesy of Brigham and Women's Hospital)

Mangino smiled with his wife, Carole, following the bilateral hand transplant.

Courtesy of Brigham and Women's |

Double hand transplant recipient Richard Mangino, 65, of Revere, Mass., bottom, smiles as he is patted on the shoulder by Dr. Bohdan Pomahac, director of plastic surgery transplantation at Brigham Women's Hopsital, following a news conference at the hospital, in Boston, Friday, Oct. 14, 2011. Last week, a team of more than 40 surgeons, nurses and support staff at the hospital worked for more than 12 hours performing a bilateral hand transplant on Mangino. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Dr. Bohdan Pomahac, director of plastic surgery transplantation at Brigham and Women's Hospital, patted Mangino on the shoulder following a news conference at the hospital after the double hand transplant.

Steven Senne/AP |

Boston, MA 101411 Double hand transplant recipient Richard Mangino (cq), 65, of Revere, center, is greeted by his wife, Carole(cq), son, Richard, (cq) and grandson, Trevor (cq), 5, following a press conference at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Friday, October 14 2011. (Globe Staff Photo/Wendy Maeda) section: Metro slug: 15arms reporter: Liz Kowalczk

Mangino posed after the surgery with his wife, Carole, son, Richard, and grandson, Trevor, 5.

Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff |