US man who got first pig heart transplant dies two months later

A genetically modified pig heart was transplanted into 57-year-old David Bennett at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore in January, a procedure that may yet offer hope to millions of Americans needing transplants.

David Bennett Sr happens to be the first person to have his failing heart replaced with that of a genetically altered pig in a groundbreaking operation died Tuesday afternoon at the University of Maryland Medical Center, two months after the transplant surgery. He lived in Maryland with severe heart disease, and had agreed to receive the experimental pig’s heart after he was rejected from several waiting lists to receive human heart.

It was unclear whether his body had rejected the foreign organ. “There was no obvious cause identified at the time of his death,” a hospital spokeswoman said.

“He proved to be a brave and noble patient who fought all the way to the end and known by millions of people around the world for his courage and steadfast will to live. “said Dr. Bartley Griffith.

The heart transplant was one of a number of pioneering procedures in recent months in which organs from genetically altered pigs were used to replace organs in humans. The process, called xenotransplantation, offers new hope for tens of thousands of patients with ailing kidneys, hearts and other organs, as there is an acute shortage of donated organs.

Mr. Bennett’s transplant was initially deemed successful. It is still considered a significant step forward, because the pig’s heart was not immediately rejected and continued to function for well over a month, passing a critical milestone for transplant patients.

He also spent time with his family, did physical therapy and watched the Super Bowl before his condition started to deteriorate ,said hospital officials.

“I hope this story can be the beginning of hope and not the end,” Mr. Bennett last words.

Article By Suzy Nyongesa.