Rick Slayman, who has received the world’s first pig kidney transplant, is excited to return home to Weymouth after a successful recovery from his surgery. Slayman expressed his gratitude for the care he received at Massachusetts General Hospital, stating that he is eager to spend time with his loved ones without the burden of dialysis that had impacted his life for years.
Slayman was diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease and also had Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. He underwent an initial human kidney transplant in 2018, but it failed. The groundbreaking pig kidney transplant on March 21 was a success thanks to the genetically modified pig kidney from eGenesis in Cambridge. The kidney was designed to remove harmful pig genes while adding certain human genes to enhance compatibility.
Slayman’s recovery following the surgery has been smooth, and he is grateful for the well-wishes he received from fellow patients awaiting kidney transplants. He described this moment as a new beginning not just for himself but for others in similar situations. Slayman looks forward to living a normal life without dialysis and spending quality time with his family and friends.