• A62 year old Richard Slayman who became the first person to undergo a successful pig Kidney transplant dies after two months of hope.

A 62-year-old Richard Slayman, who became the first person to undergo a successful pig kidney transplant, dies after two months of hope.

Slayman was suffering from an end-stage kidney disease before undergoing the operation.

In addition to kidney disease, Slayman also suffered from Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. In 2018, he had a human kidney transplant which failed after five years.

Mr Slayman’s transplant was a historic milestone hailed globally after such modifications failed in the past years. In one case, the patient’s immune system showed signs of rejecting the organ.

Following his pig kidney transplant on March 16, 2024, his doctors confirmed that he no longer needed dialysis since the new organ was functioning well.

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Slayman became a beacon of hope to patients worldwide; his trust and willingness to advance the field of xenotransplant is highly appreciated.

"Mr Slayman will forever be seen as a beacon of hope to countless kidney failure patients worldwide and we are deeply grateful for his trust and willingness to advance the field of xenotransplantation," Massachusetts General Hospital said in a statement.

The pig kidney was intended to last for at least two years; however, his family confirmed his death on May 11, 2024.

The success of the transplant was the culmination of efforts by thousands of scientists and physicians for several decades.

Massachusetts General Hospital, is the hospital behind this transplant of the year and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.

The question remains if there is still hope for pig organ transplant or is it a hit on the snag?