First Living Patient Rick Slayman With Transplanted Pig Kidney Discharged From Hospital

• The world’s first living recipient of a genetically edited pig kidney transplant has been discharged from the hospital
• In a statement, the Massachusetts General Hospital said Rick Slayman showed a remarkable pace of recovery
• The historic health milestone, amplified in a post on Instagram by the hospital, sparked an outpouring of well-wishes and support for him

Rick Slayman, the world’s first living recipient of a genetically edited pig kidney transplant, has been discharged from the hospital two weeks after his operation.

A statement from Massachusetts General Hospital said he is recovering well and will continue at home with his family.

Slayman expresses joy

In the heartwarming statement released by the hospital, Slayman expressed his heartfelt excitement about going home while stating that he wished it happened much earlier.

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“... Now, it’s a reality and one of the happiest moments of my life,” portions of his statement said, per CNN.

Slayman, a 62-year-old manager for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, was diagnosed with end-stage renal illness last year. His doctors successfully performed a xenotransplant of a pig organ/kidney surgery for him.

His pig organ is the third xenotransplant into a living person, following the previous two transplants of hearts into living patients who had exhausted their other transplant alternatives.

Slayman’s successful surgery was amplified in a post on Instagram by the hospital, where many wished him well.

See the post below:

This comes long after a Ghanaian man identified as Edwin Provencal warmed hearts on social media after helping a man suffering from a mental health issue.

Netizens react to Slayman's milestone

The historic achievement of Rick Slayman has moved hearts as it generated an overwhelming wave of support under the post by @MassGeneralNews.

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@Micha_DD said:

Thank you to the fantastic medical team and thank you Rick for your courage. You give us, who are waiting for a donor organ, courage and confidence! God bless you!

@cstrajean commented:

Congratulations and best of luck, Mr Slayman! Congratulations, @LVRiella and team!

@sabarivenus wrote:

Great news!! A very remarkable event in the field of renal transplantation.

@DrScottHadland commented:

Truly remarkable.

@SankaraJnr posted:

Congratulations to the team. Massive for the future of transplantation science.

@Juan_nuncio wrote:

Astonishing! This is a keystone in human history and medicine development!

@GarciaGallont said:

Wow… a remarkable landmark both for science and for the patient.

Mothers detained in hospital discharged after charity pays their bills

In a previous story, YEN.com.gh reported that detained mothers at a government hospital in Accra could express relief after the local charity Crime Check Foundation paid their bills for their discharge.

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Crime Check Foundation disclosed in a post on its Facebook page that, as part of its charity series, the foundation visited a government hospital in Accra to settle medical bills owed by detained mothers who had given birth to new babies.

Source: YEN.com.gh