Current:Home > Contact-usRecipient of world's first pig kidney transplant discharged from Boston hospital-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Recipient of world's first pig kidney transplant discharged from Boston hospital
View Date:2024-12-23 22:40:28
BOSTON - The recipient of the world's first pig kidney transplant is heading home from Massachusetts General Hospital Wednesday, nearly two weeks after the surgery.
The hospital said Rick Slayman, 62, will continue his recovery at home in Weymouth.
"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," said Slayman in a statement. He went on to thank all the doctors and nurses who cared for him. "The care I received was exceptional and I trust the physicians of the Mass General Brigham health system with my life. I'm excited to resume spending time with my family, friends, and loved ones free from the burden of dialysis that has affected my quality of life for many years."
Transplant first of its kind
At the time of the transplant on March 21, Slayman was living with end-stage kidney disease, along with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. He received a human kidney transplant back in 2018 but it started failing five years later.
Mass General said the transplant was the first time a pig kidney was transplanted into a living human patient. The hospital said the kidney was donated by eGenesis in Cambridge and was genetically edited to remove harmful pig genes. Certain human genes were then added to improve its compatibility.
"A new beginning"
Slayman said in his statement his recovery is "progressing smoothly" and added that he wanted to thank everyone who sent him well-wishes, including fellow patients awaiting a kidney transplant.
"Today marks a new beginning not just for me, but for them, as well," said Slayman in his statement.
- In:
- Health
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Boston
The WBZ News team is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on WBZ.com.
Twitter Facebook InstagramveryGood! (89793)
Related
- Kevin Costner says he hasn't watched John Dutton's fate on 'Yellowstone': 'Swear to God'
- Inside Coco and Ice-T's Daughter Chanel's Extravagant Hello Kitty Birthday Party
- Memorials to victims of Maine’s deadliest mass shootings to be displayed at museum
- El Salvador is seeing worst rights abuses since 1980-1992 civil war, Amnesty reports
- Fantasy football buy low, sell high: 10 trade targets for Week 11
- Rep. Patrick McHenry, former temporary House speaker, to retire from Congress
- Stretch marks don't usually go away on their own. Here's what works to get rid of them.
- European soccer body UEFA pledges at UN to do more to promote human rights and fight discrimination
- Britney Spears reunites with son Jayden, 18, after kids moved in with dad Kevin Federline
- New Mexico governor proposes $500M to treat fracking wastewater
Ranking
- Are banks, post offices, UPS and FedEx open on Veterans Day? Here's what to know
- Can anything stop the toxic smog of New Delhi?
- Missed student loan payments during 'on-ramp' may still hurt your credit score. Here's why
- Which four Republicans will be on stage for the fourth presidential debate?
- San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had mild stroke this month, team says
- Can anything stop the toxic smog of New Delhi?
- Italian prosecutors seek 6 suspects who allegedly aided the escape of Russian man sought by the US
- An Inevitable Showdown With the Fossil Fuel Industry Is Brewing at COP28
Recommendation
-
US Open finalist Taylor Fritz talks League of Legends, why he hated tennis and how he copied Sampras
-
With George Santos out of Congress, special election to fill his seat is set for February
-
Brenda Lee's Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree tops Billboard Hot 100 chart for first time since 1958 release
-
Former U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia Manuel Rocha accused of spying for Cuba for decades
-
Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly are expecting their first child together
-
6 held in Belgium and the Netherlands on suspicion of links to Russia sanction violations
-
Super Bowl LVIII: Nickelodeon to air a kid-friendly, SpongeBob version of the big game
-
Wasabi, beloved on sushi, linked to really substantial boost in memory, Japanese study finds