October 15th.
The First Affiliated Hospital of Gusu University.
Neurosurgery Department, Outpatient Clinic.
Feng Lei came for a consultation with his younger brother, Feng Yi.
Feng Yi suffered from spinal muscular atrophy, and had been disabled from birth with deformed bones. Only his head was normal.
Like physicist Stephen Hawking, his body below the head was immobile, and he could only live in a wheelchair, and he had to take medication to prolong his life.
Because he had to take care of his brother.
Feng Lei didn't get married until he was 35.
The only thing to be thankful for was.
Heaven closed a door for Feng Lei and Feng Yi, but opened a window for them.
Feng Lei was an excellent stock trader, and with his extraordinary financial talent, he earned millions in the stock market.
After getting rich.
Feng Lei did not spend his money recklessly over the years, but instead used it to find medical treatment for his brother.
In the past three years.
Feng Lei took his brother to the Peking Union Medical College Hospital, the 301 Hospital in Beijing, West China Hospital, Ruijin Hospital, and other top hospitals.
He even went to the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital, Tokyo University Hospital, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, and Charité Hospital.
Unfortunately.
With the current level of medical technology.
Spinal muscular atrophy cannot be cured.
None of these world-class hospitals have any good solutions.
Recently.
Professor Chen Yu of the First Affiliated Hospital of Gusu University has performed a series of world-first surgeries, demonstrating his exceptional medical skills.
The entire medical community is full of tales of Chen Yu.
With a glimmer of hope.
Feng Lei brought his brother to the First Affiliated Hospital of Gusu University for consultation, specifically requesting an appointment with Professor Chen Yu.
…
At this moment in the outpatient clinic.
Sun Ou, the director of the neurosurgery department, and Chen Yu were both reviewing Feng Yi's medical records and examination reports.
After a while, Sun Ou shook his head helplessly.
Symptoms like Feng Yi's.
There was simply no chance of a cure.
At this time, Chen Yu looked up, his expression solemn: "Mr. Feng, your brother's spinal muscular atrophy is very serious.
To make your brother recover, conventional medical methods have almost no chance of success.
We can only take a risky approach and treat him with a special method."
"What method?"
Feng Lei's eyes lit up, and he asked eagerly.
Chen Yu said in a low voice: "To treat your brother, we need to perform a heterotopic head and body reconstruction surgery, also known as a head transplant!
The patient will have their head transplanted onto a healthy body, becoming a whole person again.
Specifically, we need to find a body with a successful match, and then perform surgery to swap heads with your brother.
This way, your brother will have a healthy body.
Of course, this surgery has never been done in the world, and the risks are extremely high.
Theoretically.
This is the only way for your brother to regain his health!"
"Head transplant surgery?"
Feng Lei was stunned for a moment, somewhat surprised.
He had heard of head transplants in ancient books.
Books like "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio", "Records of the Supernatural", and "Records of the Mysterious" all had stories about "head swaps".
But those were all myths, folklore!
In the real world.
Head transplants have never been performed!
Feng Lei was about to refuse, but he saw his brother Feng Yi ask with interest: "Professor Chen, can you explain the head transplant surgery in detail?"
Chen Yu explained truthfully: "Head transplant surgery theoretically involves six steps.
First, find a healthy body or corpse that is a match and has no significant rejection reaction.
Second, cool the body and head to be connected to 12-15 degrees Celsius, ensuring that the cells can survive for a period of time without oxygen.
Third, cut through the tissues, muscles, blood vessels, etc. around the neck, and then use a very sharp scalpel to cleanly and neatly sever the spinal cord.
Fourth, connect the severed head to another person's body, using a chemical called polyethylene glycol to fuse the spinal cord incision, promoting cell integration.
Fifth, after successful connection of the muscle and blood supply, the patient will remain in a coma for a month, preventing the newly fused neck from moving extensively.
Sixth, after the patient awakens, they will be able to move immediately, and with physical therapy, they will be able to walk within a year.
Of course, all these steps are theoretical.
Every step has the potential for accidents, resulting in the death of the patient.
Upon hearing this.
Feng Lei asked: "Professor Chen, what is the probability of you successfully completing the surgery?"
"About 30%!"
Chen Yu stated truthfully: "Theory is still theory, not practice.
First, when a brain is cooled to 12-15 degrees Celsius, only 3 or 4 out of 10 people can have their brain survive this procedure.
Secondly, when a person's spinal cord is completely severed, it is extremely difficult to reconnect it and restore its function.
Finally, the rejection reaction to head transplant surgery is extremely severe.
Even if the surgery is successful, there may be complications, leading to death."
His words fell.
The outpatient clinic was silent, as if a needle could be heard dropping.
A 30% chance is actually very low.
Feng Lei glanced at his brother and then said: "Professor Chen, let's just forget it. My brother may be living in a wheelchair, but at least he's alive."
Chen Yu nodded.
The chances of success for head transplant surgery are just too low!
With the pace of medical progress.
Maybe in ten years, the chances of success for head transplant surgery will be higher.
At this time, Feng Yi said: "Professor Chen, I want to have the head transplant surgery! Even if the chance is low, I'm willing to try!"
"You're crazy!"
Feng Lei scolded: "A 30% chance and you still want to try it? Even gamblers wouldn't dare to gamble like that!"
Feng Yi said with a bitter smile: "Brother, what's the difference between my current state and being dead?
Instead of being paralyzed in a wheelchair for the rest of my life, I'd rather take a chance!
If I succeed, it's a win-win situation.
If I fail, I have no regrets.
At least in the history of modern medicine, I can leave behind a valuable head transplant experience for future surgeons to use as reference!"
"You…"
Feng Lei stopped in mid-sentence, holding back the words he wanted to shout.
If you haven't walked a mile in someone's shoes, don't try to give advice.
His brother had been suffering from spinal muscular atrophy since he was a child.
He could only live in a wheelchair, unable to take care of himself.
After Feng Lei made money, he hired a nanny specifically to take care of his brother's basic needs.
But when he thought about it.
What his brother wanted most was to become a healthy person.
Feng Lei asked: "Brother, have you ever thought about what would happen to me if you died?"
"Brother, I really want to take a chance!"
Feng Yi said emotionally: "You have exceptional talent in stock trading, and you could have lived a comfortable life. I really don't want to hold you back anymore!"
Speaking of which.
He added: "Besides, there's still a 30% chance of success, right!"
His words fell.
Feng Lei fell silent again.
After a long silence.
He gritted his teeth and said: "Since you want to gamble on the odds, then I'll take the risk with you!"
"Okay!"
Feng Yi smiled, his eyes full of determination.
Then, Feng Lei turned to Chen Yu and asked: "Professor Chen, how much does the head transplant surgery cost?"
"The cost is at least a million yuan!"
Chen Yu said directly: "But this head transplant surgery is unprecedented. Whether it succeeds or fails, the hospital should not charge you for the surgery.
Head transplant surgery takes a long time.
The surgery will require the participation of hundreds of doctors and nurses, and it will take at least 36 hours to complete.
I will also be your brother's lead surgeon!"
Upon hearing this, Feng Lei nodded.
The head transplant surgery won't start immediately.
His brother Feng Yi still needs to find a healthy body for a match.
Feng Lei took a deep breath and said: "Professor Chen, we've decided to go ahead with the head transplant surgery!"
"Okay!"
Chen Yu smiled: "From now on, all matters related to your brother's body matching and surgery will be handled by the hospital!"