New Hampshire Man Survives 271 Days with Pig Kidney Transplant

A man from New Hampshire, who was near death just a year and a half ago, shared on Friday that he feels he could have “decades” ahead, thanks to a remarkable 271-day experience with a transplanted pig kidney. This groundbreaking procedure might pave the way for hope among many other patients facing similar challenges.

Tim Andrews, who was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure, recalled his initial discussions about a pig transplant in late 2024, during which he genuinely believed he was running out of time.

At 68 years old, he decided to pursue the procedure, motivated partly by the potential insights it could offer to medical researchers, even if it meant he might not survive.

“Honestly, I didn’t think I’d make it through the surgery. But I felt I had to do this for humanity,” he told NBC News. “It hit me: I’m a dead man walking. So, I considered what I’ve done with my life. This is a rare chance to contribute to something bigger.”

As he discussed the procedure with Dr. Leonardo Riella, he emphasized that his primary goal was learning. He insisted, “I don’t care if I die, just as long as you learn something from this.”

Andrews was treated at Mass General Brigham in Boston, a pivotal advancement in xenotransplantation—this involves transplanting organs from one species to another. Details of his case were highlighted in findings published in The Lancet medical journal.

At the time of receiving the pig kidney on January 25, 2025, Andrews was 66. The transplant demonstrated that a pig kidney could effectively sustain kidney function, serving as a bridge until he could receive a human transplant, according to the researchers.

In fact, over those 271 days, he didn’t require any dialysis before transitioning to a human kidney, which was a significant milestone. “His case signifies the longest dialysis-free survival following a porcine kidney transplant in a living human, marking the first transition to human kidney transplantation,” the hospital stated.

Andrews has responded positively to the human donor kidney. “We could be talking decades of life expectancy here,” he remarked, expressing satisfaction, “Everything is functioning perfectly.”

The experience has deepened his appreciation for everyday pleasures—simple things that might have once gone unnoticed.

“Every day I wake up feeling like it’s a bonus. I should probably have been dead a year, maybe longer,” he said. Now, he cherishes activities like smelling flowers, swimming, biking, and fishing.

Interestingly, he knows little about the kidney donor other than that he was a young man fond of blueberries—a fruit Andrews wasn’t particularly keen on before but now finds himself enjoying. “It’s tough to know someone died so young for me to live. I feel I need to honor this new kidney,” he reflected, his voice trailing off with emotion.

Dr. Riella, the lead author on the study, believes that xenotransplantation may soon be a lifesaving alternative. He highlighted the current crisis in organ shortages, noting, “The best option for patients with severe kidney disease is transplantation, but we simply don’t have enough human organs available.”

Currently, over 100,000 individuals are on the national transplant waiting list, with most awaiting kidneys.

The story of Towana Looney, who had a pig kidney for 130 days before complications arose, illustrates the potential of xenotransplantation. Although she’s on dialysis now, the idea is that pig kidneys could offer patients like Andrews the time needed to secure a human donor.

Riella expressed a vision for xenotransplantation to not just serve as a bridge to human donors but potentially as an ongoing solution in itself.

Andrews feels optimistic about the future of pig kidney transplants. Initially, he heard it might be a decade before such procedures would be common. “Now they’re saying it could be five years or even less. I might actually see this become standard practice,” he noted.

In 2024, Mass General performed the world’s first pig-to-human kidney transplant, and while Richard “Rick” Slayman only lived for 52 days afterwards, he passed away from unrelated cardiac issues—left with functioning kidneys. Andrews expressed his belief that successful procedures are possible, saying, “I read about it and thought, ‘This might actually work.’ ”