good piece and congrats to mr. manning, maybe a follow-up would be good to do now that the soldier has undergone a transplant of penis, scrotum, abdominal wall.
3
THis full disclosure will certainly help others in their situations. I am humbled by this mans honestly.and willingness to share his story.
A quick and successful recovery !
Thanks for telling your story.
Thanks for telling your story.
Get well soon! Great job!
1
Irregardless of the article and its content, the lack of punctuation is appalling. Is this what the NYT pays for?
It's great this operation went well for this man. Bravo!
It's great this operation went well for this man. Bravo!
1
the word penis in the headline made me think about why it troubled me when the name of no other body part would
1
This man has done more with his frank expression and clear thinking about removing taboos from discussions of genitalia than anyone in recent history. I also think that his very alive sense of humor (the "I told you so" line) must have been instrumental in his ability to endure the original amputation and the following surgery and recovery. He is a portrait in American courage.
8
Can't applaud him enough for his courage and altruism.
1
Mr. Manning is a man after my own heart and mind. I agree with everything he has said. And with what he has done.
Is there any other comment necessary? I think not...
Is there any other comment necessary? I think not...
2
Congratulations, Mr. Manning. You have done a great thing for others: not only as an inspiring example for every other man unfortunate enough to find himself in the same position, but also setting an example for anybody suffering from a potentially embarrassing condition who hesitates about whether to talk about aspects of their condition that might be useful for others to know. I wish you health and happiness. And you do indeed, as someone else has already mentioned, have a very nice face.
5
He has a nice face. I think that is good PR for his campaign for honesty.
8
It react really takes a great deal of courage in this day of social media slamming and snarky comments to step up to the plate in order to extend help to others. Personally, I think he's a fantastic role model for so many of our young men injured in battle. God bless you sir.
19
... or injured by accidents or disease.
Bravo again. This isn't the only subject we should be starting to talk about.
6
Mr Manning is quite right about younger men. I have read that a record number of troops suffered every kind of amputation, including penile amputation, in the meaningless and destructive Iraq War, owing to stepping on home-made bombs. IED's. This man's story will bring hope to many of them. If the health care system will also help them. Big if.
He also could not be more correct about the near infantile horror with which Americans continue to regard genitalia. Just look at the current media frenzy over transgenders. Our politics would be enormously different if we could be calm about being primates in the sense of sexuality and more about primates in the sense of social Darwinism.
Manning is an interesting man.
He also could not be more correct about the near infantile horror with which Americans continue to regard genitalia. Just look at the current media frenzy over transgenders. Our politics would be enormously different if we could be calm about being primates in the sense of sexuality and more about primates in the sense of social Darwinism.
Manning is an interesting man.
18
Quite a wonderful man and quite a wonderful article. Thank you Mr. Manning.
4
Not so much of a surprise here... PS what about transsexual males? (Yes, there are such people and have been for a long time.... altho I don't know the speciics of construction such an appendage. )
but we persist in lots of nonsense... what's all man? BTW Tired tired tired of all of the PC garbage .
BTW now that we know all about gay marriage, how about the statistics on gay divorce? (I want to know how much the divorce lawyers have benefitted from this new cantegory of legally attached at the hip.)
but we persist in lots of nonsense... what's all man? BTW Tired tired tired of all of the PC garbage .
BTW now that we know all about gay marriage, how about the statistics on gay divorce? (I want to know how much the divorce lawyers have benefitted from this new cantegory of legally attached at the hip.)
Female genital tissue is used to construct a penis. It's a different surgery.
Why are we so "out there" about sexual activity and so awkward about the plumbing?
9
Mr. Manning's courage to speak out is remarkable. I do believe the discussion of his operation will help open the discussion of sex and genitals. As an internist I've had to counsel 2 men regarding penile cancers. It was incredibly stressful for these men, however I will use Mr. Manning's example in the next.
A frank discussion of sex will help a much broader group as well.
A personal, "thank you," to Mr. Manning.
A frank discussion of sex will help a much broader group as well.
A personal, "thank you," to Mr. Manning.
25
Let's start with standardized sex ed programs in every school. What we have, now, is a real horror, and mostly doing much damage to our kids.
5
This is a real man, and a great example for us all. I have the greatest tespect for him and his courage and honesty.
14
Mr. Manning's courage and confidence is very inspiring. Thank you for this reporting.
12
This story is fascinating from a medical perspective, just because it is newsworthy and rare. But what makes this story far more interesting and compelling is Mr. Manning's courage to be open and honest of his situation. I can only hope that this transplant is successful for a man who deserves it and already has appreciated it.
17
Ms. Grady, thank you for sharing your behind-the-story experience with Mr. Manning. He is certainly a hero. As you noted, it would have been easy for him to stay out of the spotlight: everyone would have understood. But to learn about Mr. Manning's forthright personality and his courage to speak so openly about his surgery--daring you to ask questions--is so remarkable! I never thought I'd be sharing my thoughts on penises with the New York Times, but hey: if Mr. Manning can do it, then so can I.
6
Good for Thomas Manning! Onward, with courage!!
9
Roughly half of all penile cancers are caused by HPV; the virus that also causes genital warts and most cervical cancer in women.
No discussion of genital cancers is complete without mentioning that the CDC's latest guidelines call for all boys and girls to get the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12. Teens and adults who are not yet vaccinated or unsure of their vaccination status should ask their doctors if they are eligible.
No discussion of genital cancers is complete without mentioning that the CDC's latest guidelines call for all boys and girls to get the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12. Teens and adults who are not yet vaccinated or unsure of their vaccination status should ask their doctors if they are eligible.
19
He is so right about foolish taboos. In 1992 when my 21 year old son had stage three testicular cancer, he had never heard of it !The college doctors acted with disregard and we almost lost him before good doctors noticed. I told nosy people it was cancer of the upper leg. Silly me. But later, when Lance Armstrong had the exact rare version of the cancer and chose the same doctor we did ( Dr. Einhorn invented the cure) it became possible to tell my son's great success story. Lance had kids after, so did my son. Life is good and success stories need to be told.
23
Good for him...I don't see what there is to be embarrassed about- it's a body part...If the transplant holds, others will know where to go to get repaired. I also hope the technical part will make it to a med journal.
3
Many years from now, Mr. Manning will be remembered as a pioneer in making his personal struggle public. He's right. We need to be much more open about all things concerning our bodies and our health, physical and mental. Very best wishes to him, in his recovery. And, thanks.
8
Thank you, Denise Grady. Thank you, Thomas Manning. It took the two of you to make this story happen. This is groundbreaking news. And yes, it's even more compelling, as you wrote, that an ordinary guy was willing to step up and say, it's no disgrace. He went from ordinary to hero.
Surprising that more readers haven't commented yet.
Surprising that more readers haven't commented yet.
13
Admire Mr. Manning for being so upfront. By his actions, perhaps he can allow others in his situation feel less ALONE?
Wish him all the best in his recovery.
Wish him all the best in his recovery.
12
Hooray for Mr Manning! For his courage to have the transplant and also for his willingness to bring the subject into the open. I wish him the best.
6
I watched NBC 's Nightly News last night thinking this is such big medical news that Lester Holt might have given it air time. Boy was I wrong. I think it is too squishmish a subject for him to pronounce the word "penis" in front of millions of viewers. I give this gentleman credit for being out there with his first-ever transplant.
9
This man is a hero.
7
He's a hero for being so willing to help others! I wish him the best.
6
I read yesterday's article about Mr. Manning, and after this article am even more impressed by his honesty, spirit and courage. Since my adolescence I have struggled with endometriosis, a condition that has had a serious impact on my sex life, and in turn most of my romantic relationships. More recently, as part of a race I'm running I had to pick a charity to raise money for - one of my options was an endometriosis-related organization, and although I knew the money could help people with the same struggles I've had, I chose another option because the thought of being so public about something that has caused me a lot of physical and emotional pain was too much for me. Hopefully, following Mr. Manning's example, I will make a different decision next time.
9
Wonderfully courageous! Thanks Mr. Manning and good luck to you.
3
Bobbit bragged about his reattached part, reveled in the publicity of its working - as did the media
Bravo, Thomas Manning!! Bravo for your determination to go public with something so personal! What you've done + been through is remarkable... on so many levels.
Of course, it's hard enough to endure a medical ordeal without having stigma attached to it -- and almost everything involving sexuality + illness or dysfunction or abnormality still elicits shame in our society. Shame on us!!
Also, a penis, in particular, is so individual that living one's life with someone else's must carry some psychological complexities akin to receiving a face transplant (another evolving area of surgical reconstruction).
So, for all this and more, Mr. Manning, thank you for being so open-spirited and generous. May you heal + thrive!
Of course, it's hard enough to endure a medical ordeal without having stigma attached to it -- and almost everything involving sexuality + illness or dysfunction or abnormality still elicits shame in our society. Shame on us!!
Also, a penis, in particular, is so individual that living one's life with someone else's must carry some psychological complexities akin to receiving a face transplant (another evolving area of surgical reconstruction).
So, for all this and more, Mr. Manning, thank you for being so open-spirited and generous. May you heal + thrive!
3
Mr. Manning mentioned noticing, while in the hospital, "sick children, and a girl with brain cancer," and he noted the perspective this gave him. I suspect his emotional maturity, so to speak, was what allowed him to not be brought down by his situation, and to in turn remain hopeful of and receptive to relevant medical advances. Working in a middle school - I teach students that have behavior disorders and learning disabilities - I occasionally have to remind my guys that simply having THAT body part and wearing pants don't make you a man. This gentleman has figured this out. There's a lesson here for the rest of us, men and women alike!
5
mr. manning is more of a man than most men are. i applaud him for being open and honest about his cancer and following transplant. indeed, there must be many many men suffering in silence and depression out there, afraid to be open about something that, let's face it, half of the world's population possesses: a penis. isn't it just so silly that we shrink from the word. again, mr. manning, i admire you greatly and wish you good health in the future.
4
Wow. Just wow. Thomas, you are a man's man. Thank you for your courage to be yourself, tell the truth and by doing so change countless lives and adolescent attitudes towards genatalia. We need more people like you in the world.
2
Dear Mr. "All man" MANning,
There is more wisdom and real humanity in how you are approaching your body and gender than devious politicians have who are writing shame, fear and ignorance into laws and public policy about the body and gender. Thanks for being a real man and a change agent. I wish you all the best for a complete and successful recovery.
There is more wisdom and real humanity in how you are approaching your body and gender than devious politicians have who are writing shame, fear and ignorance into laws and public policy about the body and gender. Thanks for being a real man and a change agent. I wish you all the best for a complete and successful recovery.
4
I love this guy. This is what boldness, brashness and honesty should be about. His courage helps his fellow man, both those affected by these issues and those unaffected but who need this type of education to shape part of our humanity.
Well done, Thomas, and good luck to you.
Well done, Thomas, and good luck to you.
6
What an inspiring gentleman!
2
Bravo to Mr. Manning -- and his surgeons! Best wishes for a speedy, full recovery!
4
Good for Mr Manning. His interview will help others take decisive (radical) action to stop cancer.
However, it has to be said that late night comedians have also been given an inestimable gift.
However, it has to be said that late night comedians have also been given an inestimable gift.
1
I agree with Mr. Manning about how uptight people are about their genitals. We've all got them. Every living thing has this apparatus to reproduce. Labia, vulva, penis, scrotum. Come on people, practice saying this out loud a few times and then get over it.
3
As this becomes more common, there is the possibility that it will be the first time a transplant is rejected by a spouse.
Bravo to this unvarnished hero!
2
Thank you, Mr. Manning. I hope to God this never happens to me. But if it does, your example will help give me strength. Another thing: You're famous now. I know you really didn't want it, but you might consider using your new-found notoriety. The book deal should be just around the corner. Watch out for the sharks, and be well.
3
Bravo.
38
Absolutely!
Bravo to the subject, and the journalist, but especially to the subject. And best wishes for his continued health and wellbeing.
Interesting, however, that the piece is drawing so few comments here.
Interesting, however, that the piece is drawing so few comments here.
1
@ Catherine - yes, the comments on this article may be relatively few, but I love how positive, appreciative and supportive the ones that are here, are. I am so pleased that Thomas Manning had the courage and wisdom to speak up about this truly vital subject. He's making a great contribution to every man and woman who have suffered harm to or lost their genitals. It is long past time that we speak about "our plumbing" candidly and openly, not allow it to continue to be a source of shame and embarrassment. To everyone else who has commented here, I add my "Bravo!" to Mr. Manning for what he has done for us all, by so generously bringing this important subject out from the shadows. May he recover completely and gain the full use of his penis!