Reconstructive Surgeon Honored

Today I read an article on startribune.com by Paul Walsh.  This article was about a surgeon who reattached a boy's arms 16 years ago and is now being honored with the University of North Dakota Alumni Association's Sioux Award.  16 years ago, 18-year-old John Thompson was working on his dad's farm when his arms were torn off by a by a spinning power take-off shaft.  John was rushed to North Memorial Medical Center where Dr. Allen Van Beek operated on John for 8 hours reattaching both of his severed arms.  This is a medical miracle because Van Beek is 1 of only 10 Doctors to successfully reattach 2 arms.  Now Dr. Allen Van Beek is being awarded this great honor 16 years later.  John Thompson has fully recovered from his accident and is now selling real estate in North Dakota.  I think this article is is a great representation of great medical achievements.  I can't believe that he is 1 of only 10 doctors to successfully complete this procedure.  Even if somthing bad happens somehow something good always come out in the end.  In this case Thompson got his arms ripped off but he gained a new lifelong friend.