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Richard "Rick" Slayman, who made history as the first living person to undergo a modified pig kidney transplant, has died at the age of 62.
In a statement, Massachusetts General Hospital, where he underwent the procedure in March, said they were "deeply saddened at the sudden passing of Mr Rick Slayman. We have no indication that it was the result of his recent transplant.
“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.”
Xenotransplantation is the process of treating people with cells, tissues or organs from animals.
However, it's only recently that doctors and scientists have had any success with this, as the human immune system would immediately attack and destroy foreign animal tissue.
Recent attempts have involved pigs which were genetically modified so their organs are more like those of humans.
Rick's family haven’t shared what his cause of death was.
“Our family is deeply saddened about the sudden passing of our beloved Rick but take great comfort knowing he inspired so many. Millions of people worldwide have come to know Rick's story. We felt – and still feel – comforted by the optimism he provided patients desperately waiting for a transplant,” the family said in a statement.
The family also went on to say that they were grateful that the transplant had given him seven more weeks with them.
In 2018 Richard received a human kidney but it failed, and last year he was diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease.
He also suffered from type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
He received the kidney which had been modified 69 times so his body wouldn’t reject it. It was meant to last at least two years.
“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,” Rick said after the transplant.
Before Richard, only brain-dead patients had received pig kidney transplants.
Richard’s family said he'd hoped that his transplant would give hope to many.
“After his transplant, Rick said that one of the reasons he underwent this procedure was to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive. Rick accomplished that goal and his hope and optimism will endure forever."
David Bennett Sr, the first person to receive a genetically modified pig’s heart, died in March 2022 at age 57 – two months after the procedure.
Doctors believe the medication he was given to prevent his body rejecting the heart, may have weakened it.
Lawrence Faucette, the second person to receive a genetically modified pig's heart, died in October 2023 – six weeks after the procedure.
Doctors have had greater success using pig and cow tissue for heart valve replacements, according to Harvard Medical School.
The valves typically last about 15 years and don’t require the use of anti-clotting drugs, as opposed to mechanical valves, which can last the rest of a patient's life.
SOURCES: WASHINGTONPOST.COM, APNEWS.COM, BBC.COM
