Lawrence Faucette died six weeks after surgery. His wife said her husband “never thought he would survive this long.”
The second person in the world to receive a genetically modified pig heart transplant has died, the University of Maryland School of Medicine announced Tuesday, Oct. 31. Lawrence Faucette’s death occurs six weeks after his transplant.
This 58-year-old American suffered from heart failure and was ineligible for a human heart transplant. On September 20, he became the second person to receive a genetically modified pig heart.
According to the University of Maryland School of Medicine, which performed the transplant and follow-up care, the heart appeared healthy for the first month but showed signs of rejection in recent days.
“His last chance”
Lawrence Faucette’s wife said her husband “knew his time with us was short and it was his last chance to do something for others.”
“He never thought he would survive this long,” she added in a statement released by the hospital.
In the weeks following the transplant, doctors reported that the patient made significant progress, including attending physical therapy sessions and spending time with his family.
“Lawrence Faucette’s final wish was that we make the most of what we have learned from our experience so that others can be guaranteed a chance at a new heart when a human organ is not available,” said Dr. Bartley Griffith in a statement.
Lack of human organs
The first pig heart transplant was performed by the Maryland team last year. The patient, David Bennett, survived for two months. Although the causes of death are not certain, Bartley Griffith explained that the transplanted pig heart was infected with cytomegalovirus, a porcine virus.
Many scientists hope that xenotransplants (where the donor and recipient are not of the same species) can one day alleviate the enormous shortage of human organ donations. According to CNN, more than 113,000 people in the United States are waiting for an organ transplant and more than 3,300 need a heart. Donate Life America estimates that 17 people die every day while waiting for a donor.