Richard Slayman, 62, made the global media headlines in March because he was the first person in the world to receive a pig kidney transplant.
However, in the past 2 weeks, the bad news came - Richard died of illness and passed away...
Originally from Boston, Richard developed type II diabetes and high blood pressure more than 10 years ago and was subsequently diagnosed with kidney problems that required dialysis treatment.
Like the more than 100,000 people with kidney disease in the United States, his name was registered on the medical list waiting for a kidney.
In 2018, he finally waited for a kidney source and underwent a kidney transplant.
Instead of having to go to the hospital for dialysis every week, he can move freely and go to places far away from home.
But in 2023, his donated kidney lit up in red, and when he returned to the kidney exchange overnight, Richard began to receive a second round of dialysis treatment while being on the waiting list.
This time Richard was not as lucky as last time, because it was the second round of dialysis, he had clotting complications and needed to undergo decoagulation and surgical repair every two weeks.
None of this could stop Richard's condition from deteriorating dramatically, and he desperately needed a new kidney, or death could call him at any moment.
But the average time to wait for a new kidney source is about 5 years, and if you wait for a human kidney, Richard will definitely not be able to wait.
Every year, 5,000 people with advanced kidney disease in the United States die before receiving an organ transplant. Those who wait also generally face delays of at least three years.
It seems that Richard is faced with only dialysis and treatment and death at any time.
At this moment, the medical team at Massachusetts General Hospital (Massachusetts General Hospital), where he was treated, asked him whether to try a cross-species kidney transplant.
Previously, two men had undergone pig heart transplants, but both died within a few months.
But considering that if he didn't accept the transplant, he would die, and that there might be a chance of life if he accepted the transplant, Richard bravely agreed to try.
In an interview with the media, Richard also said that this is also very beneficial to patients who are waiting for a kidney source later:
"I see this as a way not only to help me, but as a way to give hope to the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive."
Thus, in March of this year, the news that Richard had become the first patient in the world to receive a pig kidney transplant spread around the world.
The biggest challenge with cross-species organ transplantation is that the human immune system automatically recognizes them as "foreign bodies", so that they can be killed like crazy, and there will be a severe rejection reaction.
In order to reduce rejection as much as possible, the pig kidney that Richard received this time was specially genetically modified by the scientific community.
The research team performed as many as 69 genome edits on a pig embryo, removing three genes and adding seven more genes to improve its similarity to humans.
At the same time, the embryo was inactivated from viruses carried by pigs that could be harmful to humans.
Then, this pig embryo is placed in the uterus of the surrogate pig mother and is successfully delivered.
And in March of this year, the kidneys from the pigs that donated the pig kidneys were removed.
The kidney is transported through a cold chain to Richard's operating table, where it is handled by the most professional doctors.
(Pork kidneys transferred through the cold chain)
The medical community claims that the surgery is a historic milestone as it will herald a "new era of organ transplantation":
"Seventy years after the first kidney transplant and sixty years after the advent of immunosuppressive drugs, we are on the verge of a major breakthrough in transplantation."
In fact, because he had already experienced the rejection of the human body caused by the first kidney transplant, Richard was actually very afraid of the rejection of the pig kidney and his own body this time, but the doctors tried to help him find the problem in time in a very clever way.
The doctor made an incision in Richard's thigh and used sophisticated surgical instruments to get the kidney into Richard's kidney.
This way, if there is any rejection as soon as there is any reaction, they can deal with it right away.
Fortunately, Richard did not experience rejection during the procedure, and the surgery was successfully concluded in just four hours.
After that, he took immunosuppressive drugs for three days in a row, and the rejection and kidneys were stabilized, and half a month after the operation, Richard was discharged from the hospital.
The doctor told him that the new organ was functioning well and that he didn't need to do dialysis again!
And according to the doctors' expectations, it would be great if this pig kidney could last for 2 years.
Richard left the hospital full of joy and gratitude:
"I've been a patient here for eleven years and have the utmost trust in the medical team here. Both the doctors, nurses, and staff were very concerned about me.
Today I leave the hospital with the cleanest health certificate I've had in a long time, a moment I've been hoping to come for years.
Now, this has become a reality and one of the happiest moments of my life.
The kidney transplant has not only helped me prolong my life, but also brought hope to thousands of people waiting for a kidney transplant!
Be grateful for everything they do. ”
Richard, who was discharged from the hospital, needed to come to the hospital for blood and urine tests three times a week and saw the doctor once every two weeks for a full body check-up.
But just 7 weeks later, the news of Richard's tragic death followed...
The team that performed the surgery said there was no indication that Richard died as a result of the surgery.
Despite Chad's death, Richard's family is very grateful to the medical team and affirms the value of the surgery:
"The tremendous efforts of the doctors for the xenotransplant kept our family and Rick (Richard) an extra seven weeks, and the memories of that time will remain in our minds and hearts.
Rick agreed to undergo surgery not just for himself, but to give hope to the thousands of people who need transplants to survive.
Rick achieved this goal, and his hope and optimism will last forever. ”
In the obituary, the family described Richard as "a kind-hearted, witty and humorous man who gave wholeheartedly to his family, friends and colleagues." ”
The family added that they were relieved to learn that Richard's case had inspired so many people.
Massachusetts General also thanked Richard for his courageous participation in a statement:
"Mr. Sleman became a beacon of hope for countless people suffering from end-stage renal disease and opened up a new field of organ transplantation.
Without his courage and willingness to embark on a journey into the history of unknown medicine, surgery would not have been possible.
Mr. Sleman will always be regarded as a beacon of hope for countless transplant patients around the world, and we are deeply grateful for his trust and willingness to advance the field of xenotransplantation." ”
eGenesis, the massachusetts biotechnology company that provided the genetically modified pig kidney, also said:
"Mr. Sleman is a true pioneer whose courage has helped carve a path forward for current and future patients with kidney failure."
After reading this bad ending, netizens also strongly affirmed the efforts and attempts of all parties:
"The first patient who volunteered for a 'person-to-human heart transplant' didn't live long after the surgery, but the doctors learned how to do it and eventually succeeded.
The man may have no choice, but by agreeing to the surgery, he improved his medical knowledge.
We should thank him, not criticize him or the medical profession. ”
"Remember Louis Washkansky, who was the first patient to survive a person-to-person heart transplant. Sadly, he died only 18 days later, but someone had to be the first. Perhaps, just like the heart transplants that have been successful so far, the improved pig kidney transplants in the future will also achieve a high success rate and save more lives. ”
（Louis Washkansky）
"I feel very sad to read this because I had a successful kidney transplant nine years ago and it has had such a positive impact on my life.
If there is no other option, the pork kidneys are still worth a try. Obviously, more research is needed in the medical community on this. But sadly, in reality, all the money is spent on awakening madness and weapon development and manufacturing. ”
The living man has passed away, but there is no doubt that his departure has made a great contribution to the medical profession and thousands of patients, laying the foundation for the development of medicine.
R.I.P ...