A groundbreaking medical achievement has taken place in New York, where surgeons successfully performed the world’s first complete eye transplant on a man named Aaron James. This remarkable procedure, which lasted 21 hours, also involved a rare partial face transplant. Despite the uncertainty of regaining vision, experts view this breakthrough as a significant step towards restoring sight for millions of people.

Mr. James, a high-voltage utility line worker from Arkansas, suffered severe facial injuries in an electrical accident. The surgery, performed by over 140 healthcare professionals at NYU Langone Health, has been described as a pivotal moment in medical history. Although his right eye remains functional, the success of the eye transplant offers hope for future advancements in vision restoration.

The surgery provides valuable insights into the healing process of the human eye, with doctors emphasizing that the goal is not to guarantee restored vision but to pave the way for further progress. While there is no certainty regarding Mr. James regaining vision in his new eye, doctors remain optimistic about the potential outcomes. The donated face and eye came from a single male donor in his 30s, and adult stem cells were injected into the optic nerve during the surgery to aid in its repair.

As the 19th person in the US to undergo a face transplant, Mr. James’ progress is being closely monitored by medical professionals. His wife expressed a mix of emotions upon seeing him after the surgery, emphasizing her relief and happiness at his successful recovery. Mr. James, a military veteran, expressed gratitude towards the donor and their family for making the life-changing surgery possible, highlighting the transformative impact it has had on his life.

This groundbreaking achievement in the field of surgery and transplants offers hope for individuals with similar medical challenges and sets the stage for further advancements in restoring vision.

Original news source: US veteran gets world’s first eye transplant (BBC)

Listen

Slow

Normal

Fast

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Place a line of tape on the floor to represent an ‘opinion spectrum’ from ‘strongly agree’ to ‘strongly disagree.’ Read out statements related to the article such as “The possibility of restoring vision with eye transplants is worth any risk.” Students place themselves along the spectrum according to their opinion and then discuss their reasons with the class.

– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. One person is the reporter, the other is a medical expert. The reporter interviews the expert about the groundbreaking eye transplant surgery, its implications, and potential future advancements. Encourage the use of medical and scientific vocabulary from the article.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary from the article on slips of paper, such as ‘transplant,’ ‘optic nerve,’ ‘stem cells,’ ‘pivotal,’ etc. Students take turns drawing the words for their team to guess, without speaking or writing any part of the word.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students have 5 minutes to summarize the article, capturing all the key points. They can then present their summaries to the class, and the rest of the students can evaluate the summaries for completeness and accuracy.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask students to write down their predictions about the future of eye transplants and vision restoration based on the information from the article. They can consider technological, ethical, and medical aspects. Then, they share their predictions with the class or in small groups, discussing the likelihood and potential impact of these predictions coming true.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What medical achievement was recently accomplished in New York?
2. How long did the complete eye transplant surgery on Aaron James last?
3. What additional procedure was performed alongside the eye transplant?
4. What caused the injuries that led to Mr. James requiring this surgery?
5. How many healthcare professionals were involved in performing the surgery at NYU Langone Health?
6. What is the primary goal of this eye transplant surgery according to the doctors?
7. How many people in the US have undergone a face transplant before Mr. James?
8. What did Mr. James use to express his feelings towards the donor and their family?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A groundbreaking (1)______ achievement has taken place in New York, where surgeons successfully performed the world’s first complete eye (2)______ on a man named Aaron James. This (3)______ procedure, which lasted 21 hours, also involved a rare (4)______ face transplant. Despite the uncertainty of regaining vision, experts view this breakthrough as a significant step towards restoring sight for millions of people.

Mr. James, a high-voltage utility line worker from Arkansas, suffered severe facial injuries in an electrical accident. The (5)______, performed by over 140 healthcare professionals at NYU Langone Health, has been described as a pivotal moment in medical history. Although his right eye (6)______ functional, the (7)______ of the eye transplant offers hope for (8)______ advancements in vision restoration.

The surgery provides valuable insights into the healing process of the human eye, with doctors emphasizing that the goal is not to guarantee restored vision but to pave the way for further progress. While there is no certainty regarding Mr. James (9)______ vision in his new eye, doctors (10)______ optimistic about the potential outcomes. The donated face and eye came from a single male donor in his 30s, and adult stem cells were injected into the (11)______ nerve during the surgery to aid in its repair.

As the 19th person in the US to undergo a face transplant, Mr. James’ progress is being closely (12)______ by medical professionals. His wife expressed a mix of emotions upon seeing him after the surgery, emphasizing her relief and (13)______ at his successful recovery. Mr. James, a military veteran, expressed gratitude towards the donor and their family for (14)______ the life-changing surgery possible, highlighting the (15)______ impact it has had on his life.

This groundbreaking achievement in the field of surgery and transplants offers hope for individuals with similar medical challenges and sets the stage for further advancements in (16)______ vision.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What do you think are the ethical considerations involved in performing experimental surgeries like the eye transplant described in the article?
2. How would you feel if a family member decided to donate their organs, including their eyes, after passing away?
3. Do you believe that the potential benefits of groundbreaking medical procedures outweigh the risks involved? Why or why not?
4. What is your opinion on the importance of medical research in improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities?
5. Can you imagine the emotional impact of undergoing a surgery that could potentially restore one of your senses? How do you think you would react?
6. How do you think society’s view on organ donation might change with more successful surgeries like this one?
7. Do you think that all individuals should automatically be considered organ donors unless they opt out? Why or why not?
8. What is your stance on the use of stem cells in medical treatments and surgeries?
9. How would you feel about receiving a transplant that includes a visible part of another person’s body, such as a face transplant?
10. Do you think that surgeries like this should be funded by the government or health insurance? Why or why not?
11. If you had a chance to meet the first person to have a successful eye transplant, what questions would you ask them about their experience?
12. How do you think the advancements in medical technology will shape the future of healthcare?
13. Do you like the idea of living in a world where most injuries and disabilities can be treated with transplants and advanced surgeries? Why or why not?
14. What is your perception of the psychological challenges that might come with adapting to a new body part from a donor?
15. Do you think that the success of such a complex surgery as the eye transplant can inspire people in other fields to push the boundaries of what’s possible? How so?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. transplant
2. Aaron James
3. New York
4. surgeons
5. vision
6. breakthrough
7. surgery
8. donor

Meanings:
(a) The person who provided the donated face and eye
(b) The state where the groundbreaking medical achievement took place
(c) The act of transferring an organ or tissue
(d) Medical professionals who performed the eye transplant
(e) The recipient of the world’s first complete eye transplant
(f) The medical procedure that lasted 21 hours
(g) The ability to see
(h) A significant advancement in a particular field
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where did the world’s first complete eye transplant take place?
(a) Los Angeles
(b) Chicago
(c) Miami
(d) New York

2. How long did the groundbreaking surgery last?
(a) 12 hours
(b) 21 hours
(c) 36 hours
(d) 48 hours

3. What profession was Aaron James before the accident?
(a) Doctor
(b) High-voltage utility line worker
(c) Teacher
(d) Chef

4. How many healthcare professionals were involved in the surgery?
(a) 50
(b) 200
(c) Over 140
(d) 100

5. What was injected into the optic nerve during the surgery to aid in its repair?
(a) Antibiotics
(b) Painkillers
(c) Adult stem cells
(d) Chemotherapy drugs

6. How many people in the US have undergone a face transplant before Mr. James?
(a) 18
(b) 25
(c) 10
(d) 30

7. What was the source of the donated face and eye for the transplant?
(a) Female donor in her 20s
(b) Multiple donors
(c) Animal donors
(d) Single male donor in his 30s

8. What impact did the surgery have on Mr. James’ life?
(a) Transformative
(b) Minimal
(c) Negative
(d) No impact

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Surgeons in New York performed the world’s first complete eye transplant on a man named Aaron James, along with a rare partial face transplant.
2. The surgery involved removing adult stem cells from the optic nerve to hinder its repair.
3. Mr. James is the 1st person in the US to undergo a face transplant, and his progress is not being closely monitored by medical professionals.
4. This achievement in surgery and transplants offers little hope for individuals with similar medical challenges and does not set the stage for further advancements in restoring vision.
5. Mr. James’ wife expressed a mix of emotions upon seeing him after the surgery, emphasizing her relief and happiness at his successful recovery.
6. Mr. James, a high-voltage utility line worker from Arkansas, suffered severe facial injuries in an electrical accident.
7. The surgery lasted only 2 hours and involved only 14 healthcare professionals at NYU Langone Health.
8. The success of the eye transplant offers hope for future advancements in vision restoration, despite uncertainty about regaining vision.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What was the unique combination of procedures performed on Aaron James in New York?
2. How long did the world’s first complete eye transplant surgery take, and how many healthcare professionals were involved?
3. What is the primary goal of the eye transplant surgery, according to the doctors?
4. How does Mr. James’ case contribute to the medical understanding of the healing process of the human eye?
5. What was the reaction of Mr. James’ wife following the surgery, and what did Mr. James express about the donor and their family?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What medical achievement was recently accomplished in New York?
The world’s first complete eye transplant was successfully performed on a man named Aaron James, which also involved a rare partial face transplant.

2. How long did the complete eye transplant surgery on Aaron James last?
The surgery lasted 21 hours.

3. What additional procedure was performed alongside the eye transplant?
A rare partial face transplant was performed alongside the eye transplant.

4. What caused the injuries that led to Mr. James requiring this surgery?
Mr. James suffered severe facial injuries in an electrical accident while working as a high-voltage utility line worker.

5. How many healthcare professionals were involved in performing the surgery at NYU Langone Health?
Over 140 healthcare professionals were involved in the surgery.

6. What is the primary goal of this eye transplant surgery according to the doctors?
The primary goal of the surgery is to pave the way for further progress in vision restoration, rather than guaranteeing restored vision.

7. How many people in the US have undergone a face transplant before Mr. James?
Mr. James is the 19th person in the US to undergo a face transplant.

8. What did Mr. James use to express his feelings towards the donor and their family?
Mr. James expressed gratitude towards the donor and their family for making the life-changing surgery possible.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) medical
(2) transplant
(3) remarkable
(4) partial
(5) surgery
(6) remains
(7) success
(8) future
(9) regaining
(10) remain
(11) optic
(12) monitored
(13) happiness
(14) making
(15) transformative
(16) restoring
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. transplant
Answer: (c) The act of transferring an organ or tissue

2. Aaron James
Answer: (e) The recipient of the world’s first complete eye transplant

3. New York
Answer: (b) The state where the groundbreaking medical achievement took place

4. surgeons
Answer: (d) Medical professionals who performed the eye transplant

5. vision
Answer: (g) The ability to see

6. breakthrough
Answer: (h) A significant advancement in a particular field

7. surgery
Answer: (f) The medical procedure that lasted 21 hours

8. donor
Answer: (a) The person who provided the donated face and eye
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where did the world’s first complete eye transplant take place?
Answer: (d) New York

2. How long did the groundbreaking surgery last?
Answer: (b) 21 hours

3. What profession was Aaron James before the accident?
Answer: (b) High-voltage utility line worker

4. How many healthcare professionals were involved in the surgery?
Answer: (c) Over 140

5. What was injected into the optic nerve during the surgery to aid in its repair?
Answer: (c) Adult stem cells

6. How many people in the US have undergone a face transplant before Mr. James?
Answer: (a) 18

7. What was the source of the donated face and eye for the transplant?
Answer: (d) Single male donor in his 30s

8. What impact did the surgery have on Mr. James’ life?
Answer: (a) Transformative
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Surgeons in New York performed the world’s first complete eye transplant on a man named Aaron James, along with a rare partial face transplant. (Answer: True)
2. The surgery involved removing adult stem cells from the optic nerve to hinder its repair. (Answer: False)
3. Mr. James is the 1st person in the US to undergo a face transplant, and his progress is not being closely monitored by medical professionals. (Answer: False)
4. This achievement in surgery and transplants offers little hope for individuals with similar medical challenges and does not set the stage for further advancements in restoring vision. (Answer: False)
5. Mr. James’ wife expressed a mix of emotions upon seeing him after the surgery, emphasizing her relief and happiness at his successful recovery. (Answer: True)
6. Mr. James, a high-voltage utility line worker from Arkansas, suffered severe facial injuries in an electrical accident. (Answer: True)
7. The surgery lasted only 2 hours and involved only 14 healthcare professionals at NYU Langone Health. (Answer: False)
8. The success of the eye transplant offers hope for future advancements in vision restoration, despite uncertainty about regaining vision. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧