Russian who volunteered for head transplant reveals wife and baby son

A disabled Russian who volunteered for world’s first head transplant has revealed his glamorous new wife and their ‘miracle’ son after moving to the US. 

Valery Spiridonov, 33, was ready to have his neck severed by Professor Sergio Canavero – dubbed ‘Dr Frankenstein’ – and attached to a new, healthy body in experimental surgery.

The controversial Italian medic is now working in China where he has received funding for his research.

But the Russian, who became world famous for his readiness to be decapitated for science, has created out his own extraordinary new life after moving to Florida with wife Anastasia Panfilova. Pictures show Spiridonov with their new-born son.  

Valery Spiridonov, who volunteered for world’s first head transplant, has revealed his glamorous new wife and their ‘miracle’ son after moving to the US. He is pictured in Florida, holding his child

The Russian, who became world famous for his readiness to be decapitated for science, has since created out his own extraordinary new life after moving to Florida with wife Anastasia Panfilova (pictured)

The Russian, who became world famous for his readiness to be decapitated for science, has since created out his own extraordinary new life after moving to Florida with wife Anastasia Panfilova (pictured)

In a recent posting Spiridonov revealed that with him in America are his bride, Anastasia Panfilova (pictured) - in her early 30s - and their young son

In a recent posting Spiridonov revealed that with him in America are his bride, Anastasia Panfilova (pictured) – in her early 30s – and their young son

Spiridonov, a computer expert, had worked for two years with Dr Canavero but now accepts that the doctor’s first attempts at the futuristic surgery will now be carried out on Chinese volunteers rather than him. 

But he also revealed his suspicions that something has gone ‘wrong’ with head transplantation plans that mainstream medicine has decried as currently scientifically impossible.

The Russian, meanwhile, has moved to the United States and is studying computer analysis at the University of Florida.

In a recent social media post, he revealed that he has been joined in the U.S. by his wife Anastasia Panfilova and their baby son.

A picture shows the proud father – who suffers from Werdnig-Hoffman disease, a form of spinal muscular atrophy often leading to low life expectancy – holding his baby.

His son, born six weeks ago, is healthy which Spiridonov sees as a ‘miracle’ since the condition can be inherited.

His wife, who has a masters degree in chemical technology and previously studied in Italy, underwent tests during pregnancy.

Valery Spiridonov (left), 33, was ready to have his neck severed by Professor Sergio Canavero (right) - dubbed 'Dr Frankenstein' - and attached to a new, healthy body in experimental surgery

Valery Spiridonov (left), 33, was ready to have his neck severed by Professor Sergio Canavero (right) – dubbed ‘Dr Frankenstein’ – and attached to a new, healthy body in experimental surgery

Anastasia Panfilova, who has a masters degree in chemical technology and previously studied in Italy, underwent tests during pregnancy

Anastasia Panfilova, who has a masters degree in chemical technology and previously studied in Italy, underwent tests during pregnancy

Anastasia Panfilova, who has a masters degree in chemical technology and previously studied in Italy, underwent tests during pregnancy

The couple are not seen in pictures together but she explained online her love of a man in a wheelchair.

‘Such people are much deeper, feeling, faithful, kind-hearted, and also they are usually very smart…isn’t that the main thing?’

Spiridonov said: ‘We lived in the same city, and often met on professional matters and soon realised that we felt really good together.

‘She has several degrees… we got married a little over one year ago in Moscow.’

Spiridonov he has challenged Dr Canavero to come clean on his work in China amid a suspicion that the Italian encountered problems with his techniques after carrying out a test transplant on two dead bodies.

‘I understood that it was a great risk, that it had never been done before,’ he told Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda.

‘But what did I have to lose? I could not lose just a tiny chance to walk normally.’

Spiridonov is plainly happy with the way his life turned out - but he has challenged Dr Canavero to come clean on his work in China amid a suspicion that the Italian encountered problems with his techniques after carrying out a test transplant on two dead bodies

Spiridonov is plainly happy with the way his life turned out – but he has challenged Dr Canavero to come clean on his work in China amid a suspicion that the Italian encountered problems with his techniques after carrying out a test transplant on two dead bodies

The Russian has moved to America at the University of Florida where he is studying the computer analysis of emotions

The Russian has moved to America at the University of Florida where he is studying the computer analysis of emotions

The couple are not seen in pictures together but Panfilova (pictured) explained online her love of a man in a wheelchair

The couple are not seen in pictures together but Panfilova (pictured) explained online her love of a man in a wheelchair

He claimed there is a lack of information from Dr Canavero on his experimental work in China.

‘I do not regret it that Canavero did not reach the final goal – or did reach it, and failed,’ he said.

‘This was just a normal working process. The only thing we lack from him is more publicity.

‘Everybody would have benefited from information what went wrong in China and why.

‘I don’t have such information today and it does not help the further research. I do hope Canavero will publish it in detail one day.’

Instead of becoming a guinea pig, Spiridonov has designed a ‘smart’ wheelchair operated by voice, and is working on consultancy projects.

He said: ‘I feel a weight lifted off my chest. I never had a vain motive to become the first (head transplant).

‘I gave two years of my life to this project. I will be glad to see it happening (with someone else).’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk