(TheConservativeTimes.org) – After giving the gift of life by donating one of her kidneys, an Alabama woman received a miracle when her remaining kidney failed.
53-year-old Towana Looney became the recipient of a gene-edited pig kidney transplant, marking the seventh such procedure conducted by NYU Langone Health’s surgeons.
The success of this operation represents a significant leap forward in addressing the critical organ shortage in the United States, where over 100,000 individuals anxiously await life-saving transplants.
Looney’s journey began when she donated a kidney to her mother in 1999. Looney’s remaining kidney then failed due to pregnancy complications.
She had been on dialysis since December 2016, battling chronic kidney disease caused by preeclampsia.
The pig kidney transplanted into Looney underwent 10 genetic modifications to enhance compatibility and prevent rejection.
“I’m overjoyed, I’m blessed to have received this gift, this second chance at life,” Looney expressed.
The surgery, led by Dr. Robert Montgomery at the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, took last month and lasted seven hours.
Looney then had a successful recovery and was discharged earlier this month.
Respected medical expert Dr. Marc Siegel highlighted the significance of this breakthrough.
“We have a great shortage of body organs,” he stated. “And even if we get people to donate, we’re still going to have a big shortage…so we’ve got to do something.”
This successful transplant not only offers hope for those awaiting kidney transplants but also paves the way for similar procedures involving hearts and livers.
The use of pigs as organ donors presents a practical solution as they grow quickly and have large litters.
By reducing dependency on human organ donors, this new approach could lead to more affordable and widely available transplant options for Americans in need.
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