A woman who suffered a devastating injury more than a decade ago is “absolutely delighted” that she can finally use her right-hand again after life-changing surgery.
Sherica Harper, from Neasden, is now learning to write again thanks to surgeons at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead.
Her right-hand had been set at a 90-degree angle ever since she injured it in a fall in Jamaica and doctors failed to operate on her properly.
Sherica, 32, said: “I had to learn to do everything again after the accident.
“I couldn’t dress myself, I struggled to write or do simple tasks, it was a really awful time.”
But when she came into hospital with an unrelated issue, a doctor noticed her hand and referred her to the Hampstead hospital.
A combination of tendon lengthening, bone shortening and soft tissue reconstruction surgery, performed by Dr Neil Toft and Dr Dariush Nikkhah, helped return Sherica’s hand to its normal position.
Sherica said: “I didn’t want another doctor and I didn’t want to have to tell my story all over again.
“But I hadn’t reckoned on Mr Dariush Nikkhah. His eyes lit up when he saw me and he said – ‘I’m positive I can help you’. He made me feel like I could give it another push.”
She added: “I was nervous of surgery and felt very apprehensive. But the surgeons genuinely cared about my wellbeing, which I felt was remarkable given how many other patients they had in their clinics.”
Mr Nikkhah told Sherica he had been shocked at the state of her hand when he opened it up.
But, following her last surgery in August 2022, Sherica is already feeling the benefits.
She said: “It may seem like a silly thing, but I’m absolutely delighted I can clap and yes, I’m clapping the team who made it happen.
“I’m also learning to write again and can now type two-handed.”
Mr Nikkhah said: “It’s great to hear how Sherica is getting on.
“It can be a long journey to recovery but we do our absolute best to help people regain the use of their hands to enable them to live their everyday lives and pursue their passions.
“We’re a team of 19 plastic and reconstructive surgeons and… work on everything from cancer cases to complex trauma.
“We’re an amazing team and get brilliant results thanks to the incredible nurses, doctors, therapists and other specialities that support us.”
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