Man Dies Months After Becoming First Person to Receive Pig Kidney Transplant

The first living human recipient of a genetically engineered pig kidney has died roughly two months after receiving the organ.

Rick Slayman, 62, was diagnosed with final-stage kidney disease last year and received the pig kidney in March, according to CNN.

Slayman was discharged from the hospital in April.

At the time, doctors said they believed the kidney would last for years, while admitted that the world of animal-to-human transplants was uncharted water.

No cause of death was revealed.

Trending:

Judge Engoron Under Investigation for What Happened Before Slapping Trump with $454 Million Fine

“Mass General is deeply saddened at the sudden passing of Mr. Rick Slayman. We have no indication that it was the result of his recent transplant,” the hospital, which performed the operation, said in a post on X.

“Mr. Slayman will forever be seen as a beacon of hope to countless transplant patients worldwide and we are deeply grateful for his trust and willingness to advance the field of xenotransplantation,” the statement said, referring to the process of transplants from one species to another.

“We offer our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Slayman’s family and loved ones as they remember an extraordinary person whose generosity and kindness touched all who knew him,” the hospital said.

Slayman’s family issued a statement thanking doctors for the time they had with him, according to the Associated Press.

“Their enormous efforts leading the xenotransplant gave our family seven more weeks with Rick, and our memories made during that time will remain in our minds and hearts,” the statement said.

The statement said Slayman underwent surgery to give hope to others while hoping for additional time to live.

“Rick accomplished that goal and his hope and optimism will endure forever,” the statement said.

Related:

Progressive Utopia: San Francisco Program Buys Alcohol for Homeless Alcoholics to Improve Health

A company called eGenesis that genetically adapted the kidney for human use saluted Slayman for being a pioneer in a post on X.

According to CNN, Slayman received a human kidney in 2018, which began to fail last year.

Prior to his surgery, two people had received pig hearts. Both died within weeks of the surgery.


A Note from Our Deputy Managing Editor:

 

“We don’t even know if an election will be held in 2024.” Those 12 words have been stuck in my head since I first read them. 

 

Former Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn recently made that comment to Floyd Brown, founder of The Western Journal. 

 

And if the leftists and the elites get their way, that’s exactly what will happen — no real election, no real choice for the Electoral College, and no real say for the American people. 

 

The Western Journal is fighting to keep that from happening, but we can’t do it alone.

 

We work tirelessly to expose the lying leftist media and the corrupt America-hating elites.

 

But Big Tech’s stranglehold is now so tight that without help from you, we will not be able to continue the fight. 

 

The 2024 election is literally the most important election for every living American. We have to unite and fight for our country, otherwise we will lose it. And if we lose the America we love in 2024, we’ll lose it for good. Can we count on you to help? 

 

With you we will be able to field journalists, do more investigative work, expose more corruption, and get desperately needed truth to millions of Americans. 

 

We can do this only with your help. Please don’t wait one minute. Donate right now.

 

Thank you for reading,

Josh Manning

Deputy Managing Editor

P.S. Please stand with us today.



Source link