eight years ago sheila may advento's hands and feet were amputated after a bout with meningitis.etics until a year ago when she had a chance to undergo a hand transplant which changed her life. imagine having to learn how to use someone else's hands as your own. >> pinch. pinch. >> that's the reality for sheila may advento, the first woman in the united states to undergo a double hand transplant. >> i just remember being rushed to the hospital and that's it. i was out. >> advento's hands and feet were amputated after she contracted bacterial infection. >> they were so lifeless and so black. >> she got prosthetics for her hands and feet but the possibility of a future hand transplant was always on her mind. when the opportunity came from the university of pittsburgh medical center, she went for it. >> i'm amazed by my own progress. i have no expectations. >> it's been a year since she got her new hands and already advento has hit several milestones, she can feel temperature, pain, various textures. it's the result of a lot of hard work. she undergoes six hours of physical therapy

. >> it's been a year since she got her new hands and already advento has hit several milestones, she can feel temperature, pain, various textures. it's the result of a lot of hard work. she undergoes six hours of physical therapy five days a week. >> for me to finally feel these things again, my hair, my face, or even my jeans, it's something big for me. >> advento says her ultimate goal is to live as independent a life as possible. >> this is actually my very first painting. >> she draws, she paints, she drives, she puts on makeup, finds her way around the kitchen, even clips her nails. >> i'm not able to pinch the nail clipper that well. i was able to figure out how i would do this myself. that was my other way of my othf figuring out how to be independent. >> reporter: the last eight years have been difficult, but she's overcome so much by believing it all happened for a reason. no matter how painful she tries to always be positive. >> i don't give myself much of a choice but to keep going, despite of what obstacles i encounter in my life. >> amazing to see her use though hands th