John Hopkins University Hospital Surgeons Grow Replacement Ear on Woman's Forearm [PHOTOS]

Johns Hopkins University Hospital surgeons grew a replacement ear on woman's forearm. After the patient lost an ear due to cancer, John Hopkins University Surgeons had to build her an ear in her forearm in order for it to grow skin and pull other parts from her body before re- attaching it to her ear.

The medical team began their quest for Sherrie Walter, 42, in January 2011 and ended successfully in September 2012. In 2008, Walter was diagnosed with an aggressive type of cancer called basal cell carcinoma, which is a common type skin cancer in the United States. After her diagnosis she endured intense radiation and regular biopsies, however in 2010, learned the cancer had returned and spread to her skull and salivary glands. In order to save her, she had to remove tissues on her head, neck, gland lymph including her ear.

The process and procedure of the reconstruction of the ear is considered to be the most complicated one. Doctors had to remove rib cartilage in order to assemble the ear structure, which was surgically implanted under Walter's forearm for four months in order for it to stretch and be nourished by the forearms' blood vessels.

Walters husband Damien told CBS Baltimore, "We started making jokes just to try to get used to it and I was like, 'Can you hear me? Can you hear me?" With two more surgeries ahead, doctors believe her new ear will last decades.