The first ever recipient of a kidney from a genetically modified pig has passed away, as confirmed by his family and medical team on Saturday, two months following the significant transplant.
Richard “Rick” Slayman, aged 62 and from Weymouth, a suburb of Boston, was discharged in March after undergoing the transplant at Massachusetts General Hospital.
His family expressed gratitude for the additional time they had with Rick due to the xenotransplantation effort, stating that the memories made during that period would remain cherished.
Slayman opted for the procedure due to ongoing dialysis complications, which required frequent hospitalizations.
He viewed the transplant as not only a personal solution but also as a symbol of hope for the thousands in need of transplants to survive.
The transplant team emphasized that there was no indication that his passing was directly linked to the recent transplant.
The facility acknowledged Slayman’s role in advancing xenotransplantation and expressed deep condolences to his family and loved ones.
This was Slayman’s second kidney transplant, having received his first from a human donor in 2018 after years of dialysis due to end-stage kidney disease and Type 2 diabetes.
Despite the optimism surrounding his departure from the hospital post-transplant, Slayman’s passing underscores the challenges and risks associated with such groundbreaking medical procedures.
