Soldier Receives First Ever Penis Transplant In Baltimore

BALTIMORE, MD — A soldier who received the world's first penis and scrotum transplant is expected to be discharged from the hospital this week, officials with Johns Hopkins Medicine reported on Monday. A team of 11 surgeons conducted the groundbreaking procedure.

The soldier, who wishes to remain anonymous, received a penis, scrotum without testicles and partial abdominal wall from a deceased donor, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

"It's a real mind-boggling injury to suffer; it is not an easy one to accept," said the veteran, who injured his genitals in Afghanistan.

The patient was injured by an improvised explosive device. He also lost his legs below the knee as a result of the IED attack, NPR reports.

"When I first woke up, I felt finally more normal...like finally I'm okay now," he said in a statement.

Officials with Johns Hopkins, which oversaw the March 26 procedure, said they anticipate he will be discharged this week from the hospital after undergoing the 14-hour surgery.

The surgeons and Johns Hopkins donated their services and care, which tallies hundreds of thousands of dollars and wouldn't have been covered by veterans benefits or insurance.

The recovering soldier should regain close to normal levels of urinary and sexual function, the doctors said.

Graphic courtesy of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Image via Shutterstock.