The family of the 62-year-old man, who made medical history as the recipient of the world’s first pig kidney transplant, sadly announced his passing on Saturday.
Richard Slayman had the four-hour procedure done in March at Massachusetts General Hospital. He was able to leave the hospital two weeks later on April 2.
The hospital made it clear that there was no indication that Slayman’s sudden passing was caused by the transplant.
In a statement, Massachusetts General Hospital expressed its deep sadness at the unexpected death of Mr. Rick Slayman. The hospital clarified that there is no indication that his passing was related to his recent transplant.
Slayman, a resident of Weymouth, located 16 miles southeast of Boston, had been battling Type 2 diabetes and hypertension for several years. Prior to his transplant, he had been undergoing dialysis treatment for an extended period. In December 2018, he received a kidney transplant from a deceased donor at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Unfortunately, five years later, the kidney started to decline, and Slayman had no choice but to go back to dialysis in May 2023. This sudden change had a significant impact on his overall well-being and quality of life, as confirmed by the hospital.
The statement from the hospital expressed gratitude for Mr. Slayman’s trust and commitment to advancing xenotransplantation. They acknowledged him as a beacon of hope for transplant patients worldwide and extended their heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. The hospital recognized him as an extraordinary individual whose generosity and kindness left a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him.
The eGenesis pharmaceutical company, based in Cambridge, provided the kidney for the procedure. Using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, they genetically edited a pig donor, removing harmful pig genes and incorporating certain human genes to enhance compatibility with humans. The hospital reported this information.
Slayman’s family expressed their gratitude to the doctors and care team at Mass General Hospital in a heartfelt statement.
We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our beloved Rick, but we find solace in the fact that he has been a source of inspiration for so many. Rick’s story has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. Even in the face of immense challenges, he brought hope to patients who were anxiously awaiting a transplant.
We express our deep gratitude to the dedicated care team at Massachusetts General Hospital and Mass General Brigham, specifically Dr. Williams, Dr. Kawai, and Dr. Riella. They went above and beyond in their efforts to provide Rick with a renewed opportunity at life. Their tireless commitment during the xenotransplant procedure granted our family an additional seven weeks with Rick. The memories we created during that precious time will forever be cherished in our hearts and minds.
Slayman’s family mentioned that one of the motivations behind his decision to undergo the transplant was to inspire hope among the countless individuals who are patiently waiting for transplants to save their lives.
Rick achieved that goal, and his hope and optimism will live on indefinitely. His legacy will serve as an inspiration for patients, researchers, and healthcare professionals worldwide.