While I think they have done this before (with animals and possibly humans) this is the first 'reported' instance. I wish him well.. and I am horrified at the same time..

Susoni

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Born with a genetic muscle-wasting disorder, Russian Valery Spiridonov is volunteering to become the first human to go under the knife and receive a body-to-head transplant.

“I’m very interested in technology, and anything progressive that might change people’s lives for the better,” Spiridonov told RT.

He says that his disease gets worse every year and those suffering from Werdnig-Hoffman disorder tend not to live much longer then 20 years, so this surgery could possible help improve his life while furthering science.

The surgery will be performed by Italian nurosurgeon Sergio Canavero, who has compared the risks of the head-to-body transplant to space exploration.

“Russia sent Yury Gagarin into space with fair chances of dying. America sent Neil Armstrong to the moon with fair chances of dying. And the chances here are much, much better,” Canavero told RT.

Canavero claims the surgery could take up to 36 hours and cost upwards of $11 million dollars.

The procedure will entail cooling Spiridonov’s brain to 50-60 degree fahrenheit to prolong its survival ability without oxygen. The spinal cord will then be cut and glued to the new body using a biological glue.

The patient will then be put into a three to four week coma to prevent any movement while his head and body synchronize.