Spiridon, 30, a computer scientist from Russia when asked about his decision to undergo the
surgery he said “ My decision is final and I do not plan to change my mind”. As
a lifelong sufferer of the rare genetic werdnig- Hoffman muscle wasting
disease, he says he wants the chance of a new body before he dies.
“Am I a fraid? Yes , of course I am, but it is not just very scary, but also very intresting” said
Spiridonov from his home in Vladimir, a city 120 mile east of Moscow.
“ I am not in a hurry to be operated on, but if all goes
according to our plan, the surgery will take place in two years from now,
sometimes in 2017”, he said. The cost of the 36- hours operation, which could
only be performed in one of the world’s most advanced operating theatres , has
been estimated at $9.8 million.
The new body would come from a transplant donor who is brain
dead but otherwise healthy. Both donors and patient would have their heads
disconnected from their spinal cord at the same time , using an ultra – sharp
blade to give a clean cut.
The patient’s head would then be placed onto the donor’s
body and attached using what Canavero calls his “ magic ingredient”- a glue –
like substance called polyethylene glycol- to fuse the ends of the spinal cord
together. The muscles and blood supply would be stitched up,before the patient
is put into a coma for four weeks to stop them from moving while the head and
body heal together. When they wake patient should be able to move , feel their
faces and even speak with the same voice. (Daily mail)