Valery Spiridonov, a 30-year-old Russian man with Werdnig-Hoffman disorder, plans to undergo the riskiest of hypothetical surgical procedures – what is being dubbed “HEAVEN” or the head anastomosis venture. People who suffer from this “muscle-wasting disorder” typically don’t live past the age of 20. Spiridonov has outlasted that projection and is willing to place his trust in Italian surgeon Sergio Canavero, MD, who compares the risks of this procedure to putting the first man in space.

The procedure is being estimated at eleven million dollars and will entail about 36 hours of surgery. If Spiridonov survives the procedure, he will be placed in a medically induced coma for several weeks to prevent movement. “The body will be taken from a brain-dead, but otherwise healthy donor.” In the video, Spiridonov asserts that he is aware of the risks, but wants to help “create a scientific basis for future generations, no matter what the actual outcome of the surgery is.”

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