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The day I woke up with new, beautiful hands

At the age of 12, Luka Krizanac had to have his hands and lower legs amputated. 17 years later, a stranger gifted Luka a pair of hands, and a newfound sense of independence.

Luka Krizanac was 12 when his parents picked him up from a friend's birthday party in Switzerland, when everything changed. A sore throat transpired to be an infection, which improperly treated, led to severe sepsis and organ failure. Lying in a coma, he had to have both of his hands and lower legs amputated in order to save his life. With the support of his family and friends, Luka slowly rebuilt. He wanted to ensure he lived a full life. He travelled, studied for a degree and got a job in banking. Last year, an opportunity arose for Luka to fly to the US, and receive a double-hand transplant - and 17 years after losing his hands, Luka was gifted a pair by a stranger

When Bear, a ferocious-looking but lovable former police dog, came to live with Julia Pope and her husband in southern England, he made himself at home immediately and settled down for a comfortable retirement. But then Bear's many years of strenuous service in the force took its toll and he became seriously ill. Julia feared the worst for Bear, but as he was recovering from surgery - the old dog made use of his old tricks and would end up unexpectedly saving the life of a missing person.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producers: Elena Angelides, Florian Bohr and Maryam Maruf

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: Luka Krizanac. Credit: Luka Krizanac)

Available now

41 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Wed 6 Aug 2025 11:06GMT
  • Wed 6 Aug 2025 17:06GMT
  • Wed 6 Aug 2025 21:06GMT
  • Thu 7 Aug 2025 02:06GMT

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Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary

Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected