(ReclaimingAmerica.net) – In a groundbreaking medical feat, an Alabama woman was discharged from the hospital after receiving a historic gene-edited pig kidney transplant.
53-year-old Towana Looney from Alabama underwent the transplant surgery on November 25, becoming the only living person with an animal organ transplant.
This groundbreaking achievement is the seventh pig organ transplant performed by NYU Langone Health’s surgeons.
“Without a pathway to receiving a human kidney, she decided a gene-edited pig kidney was worth a try,” said Dr. Robert Montgomery.
Looney’s journey to this historic moment is a testament to the country’s dire need for organ donors.
In 1999, she generously donated a kidney to her mother. Tragically, her remaining kidney later failed due to pregnancy complications, leaving her to depend on dialysis since December 2016.
The groundbreaking procedure involved a pig kidney that underwent 10 genetic modifications to improve compatibility and prevent rejection.
“I’m overjoyed, I’m blessed to have received this gift, this second chance at life,” Looney said of the transplant.
The success of Looney’s transplant brings renewed hope to the more than 100,000 Americans currently awaiting organ transplants, including 90,000 in need of kidneys.
Respected medical expert Dr. Marc Siegel emphasized the transformative potential of this procedure.
He stated, “We have a great shortage of body organs, And even if we get people to donate, we’re still going to have a big shortage … so we’ve got to do something.”
The success of this transplant opens doors for similar procedures involving hearts and livers, potentially saving countless more lives in the future.
Looney’s miraculous recovery allowed her to get a quick discharge from the hospital earlier this month, just days after the procedure.
She is now being closely monitored with cutting-edge wearable technology and a groundbreaking drug regimen.
This groundbreaking achievement gave Looney a new lease on life and renewed hope for thousands of Americans awaiting transplants.
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