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A New Hampshire man who made medical history by living with a genetically modified pig kidney for a record 271 days has had the organ removed after doctors detected declining function. Tim Andrews, 67, received the transplant in January at Mass General Brigham, becoming the fourth living patient in the United States to receive a pig kidney designed to prevent organ rejection and other complications. Why Was The Organ Removed? Surgeons decided to remove the pig kidney after observing a steady decline in its function. Hospital officials said Tim Andrews will now return to dialysis while remaining on the waiting list for a human kidney. Despite the setback, doctors called his case a milestone in advancing research into xenotransplantation- the use of animal organs in human patients. Who Is Tim Andrews And Why Did He Volunteer For The Transplant? Tim Andrews, a retired engineer from New Hampshire, had lived with diabetes since the 1990s and was diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease about three years ago. Dialysis sustained his life but left him exhausted as each session lasted six hours, three times a week. Knowing the risks,Tim Andrews volunteered for the experimental procedure in the hope that it could not only extend his own life but also pave the way for others with kidney failure. For the nine months the genetically modified kidney functioned, Tim Andrews said he felt “alive” again. In a Facebook post, Tim Andrews called his experience “a punishing journey filled with unknowns and surprises.” He revealed that experimental drugs used during the treatment caused unexpected side effects but said he was proud of “everything we discovered, learned and experienced.” Mass General Brigham described Tim Andrews as a “selfless medical pioneer and an inspiration to patients with kidney failure around the world.” Does This Mean The Experiment Failed? Tim Andrews’ case represents the longest any human has lived with a functioning pig kidney- a major step in understanding how genetically modified organs behave inside the human body. Researchers consider it a valuable success even though the organ’s function eventually declined. What Happens Next For Tim Andrews? Mass General Brigham said it plans to conduct another pig-to-human kidney transplant later this year, building on what it learned from Tim Andrews’ case. Tim Andrews, meanwhile, will resume dialysis while waiting for a human kidney.
