America's first penis transplant patient opens up about recovery

Thomas Manning (pictured right next to nurse Anthony DiGiovine), 64, became America's first penis transplant recipient. Photo / AP

America's first penis transplant recipient has opened up about his long recovery and says he is still waiting to resume his sex life six months after the procedure.

Thomas Manning, 64, of Halifax, Massachusetts, received the transplant in May and left the hospital three weeks later, after two follow-up surgeries. Doctors had diagnosed him with penile cancer four years prior, while Manning was getting examined after hurting himself in a fall.

Manning, who isn't married and hasn't had children, had to get his penis amputated and replaced with a catheter. He thought sex was off the table forever - until he asked to join a donor list.

The right donor surfaced four years later - a man who died in Maine and gave organs to eight different people. Six months later, Manning told Boston Magazine he is recovering feelings in his penis and doctors think he's ahead of schedule. But he won't attempt sex until March - maybe even later.

Manning's penile cancer diagnosis came after he slipped on black ice while working, pushing part of his colon into his groin.

He was being treated at Massachusetts General Hospital when a doctor told him he had cancer, which a biopsy confirmed.

Doctors removed Manning's penis a little more than a week later.

Manning chatting with nurses at the time of his release from hospital in June. Photo / AP

"It was a real kick in the chops. I actually thought I was going to die. Then I thought I was going to have tubes forever hanging off of me. I wondered how I was going to go to the bathroom," Manning told Boston Magazine.

He woke up from the surgery to find a catheter where his penis used to be. Manning, who said he didn't have the 'courage' to look at himself for three days, had to have another surgery after one of his testicles swelled "to the size of a basketball".

Manning eventually became comfortable living with the catheter, but thought he would never have sex again.

"I didn't think there was going to be any more of that. I just came to terms with it. I didn't dwell on it," he said.

He asked his doctors about a medical transplant but was initially told he wasn't a candidate because he had a heart condition. Manning saw a cardiologist to minimise the risk and ultimately landed on the donor list.

He checked into Massachusetts General Hospital in May for a grueling 16-hour surgery. The first time he saw his new penis was a shock.

"It was tough. It was black and blue-and I mean black and blue. I was all cut up-I had stitches everywhere," Manning said.

"I took one look at it three days after the surgery, and I was in shock. It knocked me down and I couldn't believe it. I looked at it a couple of times and then I didn't want to look at it anymore. I wanted it to heal and do what it's supposed to do."

Manning left three weeks later with his mother and a family friend, after the operation was deemed a success.

At that time, Manning could already urinate normally and walk. He knew he would have to wait months to have sex again.

His first milestone was to use the toilet normally, which happened sooner than doctors expected. Manning can now hope to have a sex life again, possibly around spring.

"I won't have full feeling there until March, but they think I'm ahead of schedule. I'm at the hospital frequently," he said.

But Manning doesn't plan to try intercourse or masturbation until March, or 'maybe longer'.

"I'm not dwelling on it. You know, it's important to me that I can do that. If [sex or masturbation] does happen, it would be a miracle, if you really think about it," he said.

Manning chose to be candid about his procedure because he didn't want to have to cover it up if he didn't have to. The one thing he won't tolerate is people making fun of the donor.

"I won't tolerate that,' he said. "That donor can't fight for himself, so I have to stand here and be his surrogate and speak for him."