Rick Slayman, who has received the world’s first pig kidney transplant, is set to leave Massachusetts General Hospital after nearly two weeks since the groundbreaking surgery. The 62-year-old will continue his recovery at home in Weymouth as announced by the hospital. Slayman expressed his gratitude for the care he received and stated that leaving the hospital with improved health is one of the happiest moments of his life.
At the time of the transplant on March 21, Slayman was battling end-stage kidney disease, Type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. He had previously received a human kidney transplant in 2018, which started failing after five years. This pig kidney transplant marks a first as it is the first time a pig kidney has been transplanted into a living human patient. The kidney was donated by eGenesis in Cambridge, genetically edited to remove harmful pig genes with certain human genes added to enhance compatibility.
Slayman’s recovery is progressing smoothly, and he expressed his appreciation for the well-wishes he received from those rooting for his healing journey. He acknowledged that this milestone is not just significant for himself but for other patients awaiting kidney transplants as it signifies a new beginning for those hoping for a similar outcome.
