![German farmer Karl Merk, 54, is pictured reflected in a mirror as he lies in his bed next to a gingerbread heart reading 'Good luck' in a Munich hospital, October 10, 2008. German farmer Karl Merk, 54, is pictured reflected in a mirror as he lies in his bed next to a gingerbread heart reading 'Good luck' in a Munich hospital, October 10, 2008.](https://c8.alamy.com/compfr/2d1bd23/german-farmer-karl-merk-54-is-pictured-reflected-in-a-mirror-as-he-lies-in-his-bed-next-to-a-gingerbread-heart-reading-good-luck-in-a-munich-hospital-october-10-2008-merk-who-received-the-worlds-first-complete-double-arm-transplant-is-able-to-perform-some-basic-tasks-but-it-still-could-take-up-to-two-years-until-he-re-learns-how-to-use-his-hands-properly-doctors-spent-15-hours-on-july-25-26-grafting-the-donor-arms-onto-the-body-of-merk-who-lost-his-own-just-below-the-shoulder-in-a-farm-accident-involving-a-combine-six-years-ago-reuters-alexandra-beier-germany-2d1bd23.jpg)
German farmer Karl Merk, 54, is pictured reflected in a mirror as he lies in his bed next to a gingerbread heart reading 'Good luck' in a Munich hospital, October 10, 2008.
Rescue teams search for German billionaire Karl-Erivan who vanished on Swiss Alps ski trip | South China Morning Post
![Der Unterallgäuer Landwirt Karl Merk 2013, fünf Jahre nach der weltweit ersten beidseitigen Armtransplantation Der Unterallgäuer Landwirt Karl Merk 2013, fünf Jahre nach der weltweit ersten beidseitigen Armtransplantation](http://www.jensen-media.de/webgalerie/merk/preview/jm_merk_2013_001.jpg)
Der Unterallgäuer Landwirt Karl Merk 2013, fünf Jahre nach der weltweit ersten beidseitigen Armtransplantation
![Patient Karl Merk (C) is pictured next to doctor Christoph Hoehnke (R) during the press conference at university hospital 'rechts der Isar' (literally: hospital on the right hand side of the river Patient Karl Merk (C) is pictured next to doctor Christoph Hoehnke (R) during the press conference at university hospital 'rechts der Isar' (literally: hospital on the right hand side of the river](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/D4E35B/patient-karl-merk-c-is-pictured-next-to-doctor-christoph-hoehnke-r-D4E35B.jpg)
Patient Karl Merk (C) is pictured next to doctor Christoph Hoehnke (R) during the press conference at university hospital 'rechts der Isar' (literally: hospital on the right hand side of the river
![Karl Merk touches his face during a press conference in the central clinic in Memmingen, Germany, 22 July 2009. Merk received the first arm transplant worldwide one year ago. After the nerves Karl Merk touches his face during a press conference in the central clinic in Memmingen, Germany, 22 July 2009. Merk received the first arm transplant worldwide one year ago. After the nerves](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/D4KGMN/karl-merk-touches-his-face-during-a-press-conference-in-the-central-D4KGMN.jpg)
Karl Merk touches his face during a press conference in the central clinic in Memmingen, Germany, 22 July 2009. Merk received the first arm transplant worldwide one year ago. After the nerves
![World's only double arm transplant patient tells of 'indescribable feeling of being whole again' | Daily Mail Online World's only double arm transplant patient tells of 'indescribable feeling of being whole again' | Daily Mail Online](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/10/08/article-0-02F0EC5F00000578-540_468x603.jpg)
World's only double arm transplant patient tells of 'indescribable feeling of being whole again' | Daily Mail Online
![The undated handout picture shows Karl Merk (front), patient with transplanted arms, riding a bike with his surgeon Christoph Hoehnke in Memmingen, Germany. One year after the first arm transplant worldwide, the The undated handout picture shows Karl Merk (front), patient with transplanted arms, riding a bike with his surgeon Christoph Hoehnke in Memmingen, Germany. One year after the first arm transplant worldwide, the](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/D4KH2D/the-undated-handout-picture-shows-karl-merk-front-patient-with-transplanted-D4KH2D.jpg)
The undated handout picture shows Karl Merk (front), patient with transplanted arms, riding a bike with his surgeon Christoph Hoehnke in Memmingen, Germany. One year after the first arm transplant worldwide, the
![Der Unterallgäuer Landwirt Karl Merk 2013, fünf Jahre nach der weltweit ersten beidseitigen Armtransplantation Der Unterallgäuer Landwirt Karl Merk 2013, fünf Jahre nach der weltweit ersten beidseitigen Armtransplantation](http://www.jensen-media.de/webgalerie/merk/original/jm_merk_2013_002.jpg)