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Bizzare: Woman Successfully Grows Ear from Arm
It seems like the plots from science fiction are increasingly becoming part of our reality – something that Sherrie Walters knows all too well. Walters’ doctors have been able to grow an ear on her arm and then attach it to the side of her face, giving her a functioning ear again.
In 2008, Sherrie Walters, now 42 years old, discovered that she had rapidly spreading basal cell cancer in her ear. The disease is a type of skin cancer. The doctors pursued an aggressive treatment to combat the destructive disease, removing her ear, part of her skull, and her left ear canal. Though Walters was left without an ear, she was still able to hear with the help of a special hearing aid.
A few months ago, doctors from the renowned Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore decided to try a new procedure on Walters. Using cartilage from her rib, the doctors stitched a new ear to match her right one. Then their creation was implanted under the skin of her forearm, where the ear grew for months.
“We started making jokes just to try to get used to it and I was like, ‘Can you hear me? Can you hear me?’” Derrick Walters, her husband, said.
Doctors attached the ear and blood vessels surgically. Another surgery, conducted this week, gave the ear shape and detail. Dr. Patrick Byrne, a revered plastic and reconstructive surgeon, says that after the swelling goes down and the ear heals, Walters will have an ear that both looks and functions normally. Walters has two more minor surgeries left, but if everything goes well, Walters’ newly constructed ear could last for decades.
And Sherrie Walters considers herself lucky and hopes other people can learn from her experiences. “It’s a cliché,” she said, “but use the sunscreen and if you are not sure about something, get it checked because that’s what I didn’t do.”
Medicaldaily
Posted by
Shameless
September 30, 2012 at 7:45 am
In the last days knowledge shall increase
PF CADERS
September 30, 2012 at 8:56 am
The world is now coming to an end. let us pray so that the second coming of the lord will find us ready for his sweet kingdom.
Mo taim
September 30, 2012 at 10:47 am
Yeah this is what am talking bout.Thank God i am a scientist.
Higher Taller
September 30, 2012 at 3:00 pm
For Religious dogmatists even positive news is doom. Why should the world end because of progress?
Mwanarob
September 30, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Yes. This is progress. People saying this is bad can be compared to Medieval time who did not support operations and caesarian cuts though good for everyone.
lol
September 30, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Progress but it looks monstrous.
Kinyunkunyunku Murumbu
September 30, 2012 at 8:49 pm
Did you hear that…from the rib. The bible say woman was created from the right rib…..
kapuli wa ng'ongo
October 1, 2012 at 6:12 am
THESE DOCTORS..THEY CAN ATTACH ANYTHING ANYWHERE…….!
The Terminator
October 1, 2012 at 9:20 am
—what the heck!!!!
Nicola
October 1, 2012 at 11:39 am
we are comming to the end of the world.
VEN
October 1, 2012 at 11:56 am
That’s whats up.I need a spare di##.
me
October 1, 2012 at 11:59 am
Fantastic progress in th world of science..