First patient of pig kidney transplant discharged from hospital
Rick Slayman, the world’s first living recipient of a genetically edited pig kidney transplant, has been discharged from the hospital.
CNN reports that Slayman was discharged on Wednesday, two weeks after his operation, according to a statement by Massachusetts General Hospital.
“He is recovering well and will continue to recuperate at home with his family,” the hospital wrote on X.
Slayman was quoted in the statement issued by the hospital saying: “This moment – leaving the hospital today with one of the cleanest bills of health I’ve had in a long time – is one I wished would come for many years. Now, it’s a reality and one of the happiest moments of my life.”
Recall that Slayman, a 62-year-old manager with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, had previously said his doctors suggested that he try a pig kidney when he was diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease last year.
His doctors stated last month that they thought Slayman’s new kidney could last years but also acknowledged that there are many unknowns in animal-to-human transplants.
Slayman’s surgery is the third such xenotransplant of a pig organ into a living human.
The first two transplants were hearts transplanted into living patients who had run out of other transplant options.
The organs were transplanted under special rules that permit compassionate use of experimental therapies for patients in especially dire situations. However, both patients died weeks after receiving their organs.
Slayman said he was grateful for the response to his surgery, especially from other patients who are waiting for a kidney transplant.
“Today marks a new beginning not just for me, but for them, as well,” Slayman said.
About author
You might also like
FG inaugurates Governing Boards, Council for health regulatory bodies
ABUJA – The Federal Government, Friday, inaugurated the Governing Boards/Councils for some of the regulatory bodies for institutions under the Federal Ministry of Health. The appointments were approved by President
Foundation donates 24-Bed Comprehensive Female Medical Ward to Katsina General Hospital
A home grown foundation, the Continental Computers has donated a 24-bed comprehensive female medical ward to the General Hospital, Katsina. The 24-bed medical female ward, built and equiped by the
Malnutrition: How UNICEF, Kaduna govt rescue children from early graves with RUTF
It was difficult to believe that children with such acutely-malnourished looks and in such huge number could be seen in just two local government areas of Kaduna state. They looked
0 Comments
No Comments Yet!
You can be first to comment this post!