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Manning became emotional during the interview. Elise Amendola/AP
cancer survivor
Man released from hospital after first penis transplant in US
Thomas Manning said he shared his story to give hope to others.
A MAN WHO received America’s first penis transplant has called the operation a success.
Thomas Manning left Massachusetts General Hospital yesterday, three weeks after the gruelling 15-hour surgery. The 64-year-old travelled with his mother and a family friend back to his home in Halifax.
“We’re going to go home, just take it easy, have a nice, relaxing night,” Manning said as he prepared to leave his hospital room. “It’s almost all over. The worst of it is all done.”
After two follow-up surgeries, Manning said he can urinate normally and he’s back to walking around. Sexual function is still months away though and reproduction won’t be possible because he did not receive new testes.
Manning, whose penis was amputated after he was diagnosed with penile cancer in 2012, is not married and has no children.
He still has dozens of stitches and the swelling has yet to subside.
“It took me a few days to look at it, so confidence comes and goes. It’s one of those things that, if you look at it, it doesn’t look too good.”
Manning is optimistic he’ll make a full recovery in the coming months and that his body will accept the transplant. Through it all, Manning said he hasn’t felt any pain from the surgery.
I got the A-Team here. They’ve been taking care of me like you can’t imagine. I’m recovering no matter what they do to me.
Manning is the third man in the world to receive a new penis, following transplants in South Africa in 2014 and China in 2005.
The procedure could benefit cancer survivors, accident victims and wounded soldiers. By sharing his story, Manning said he wants to give others hope in the operation.
Soon after his amputation, Manning started asking his doctor about the possibility of a transplant. He said it finally sunk in last week that he was the first man in the US to get the procedure.
“I didn’t think too much of it, and then it hit me that I was the only one.”
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