Rick Slayman, the first recipient of a pig kidney transplant in the world, is preparing to leave Massachusetts General Hospital and return home to Weymouth after nearly two weeks post-surgery. Slayman expressed his excitement and gratitude for the care he received from the doctors and nurses, stating that he is eager to spend time with his family and friends without the burden of dialysis that had affected his quality of life for years.
At the time of the transplant on March 21, Slayman was battling end-stage kidney disease, as well as Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. An initial human kidney transplant in 2018 had failed, leading to the groundbreaking pig kidney transplant. Massachusetts General Hospital shared that the pig kidney was from eGenesis in Cambridge and had been genetically modified to remove harmful pig genes while adding certain human genes to enhance compatibility.
Slayman’s recovery following the surgery has been progressing smoothly, and he expressed his appreciation for the well-wishes he received, particularly from fellow patients awaiting kidney transplants. He described this moment as a new beginning not just for himself, but for others in similar situations who may one day have access to this life-changing treatment.
