Rick Slayman, the world’s pioneer recipient of a genetically edited pig kidney transplant, has been discharged from Massachusetts General Hospital after two weeks of recuperation.
In a statement released by the hospital, they confirmed his successful recovery and noted his return home to be with his family. Slayman, a 62-year-old manager at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, expressed profound gratitude, remarking that leaving the hospital with renewed health is a long-awaited moment that now stands as one of the happiest in his life.
Facing end-stage kidney disease last year, Slayman’s doctors suggested the groundbreaking option of a pig kidney transplant. Despite the uncertainties surrounding animal-to-human transplants, his physicians are optimistic about the longevity of his new organ, though acknowledging the unpredictability inherent in such procedures.
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This remarkable surgery marks the third instance of xenotransplantation involving pig organs into living humans, following two heart transplants carried out under special compassionate use regulations. While the previous patients sadly succumbed weeks after surgery, Slayman’s successful outcome brings hope not only to him but also to the countless others awaiting life-saving organ transplants.
Acknowledging the dire shortage of available organs, particularly kidneys, Slayman emphasized the significance of his procedure, recognizing it as a new beginning not just for himself, but for all those in need of organ transplants. With approximately 17 individuals in the U.S. succumbing daily while awaiting organs, and a vast disparity between the number of transplants performed and those on the waitlist, Slayman’s journey symbolizes a beacon of hope for patients worldwide.
