First Pig Kidney Patient Now Thriving With Human Organ

Tim Andrews is living proof that the future of medicine is closer than we think.

The 67-year-old from New Hampshire became the first person in the world to receive both a pig kidney and later a human kidney. On January 13, he underwent his second transplant at Mass General Brigham Hospital, just days after doctors called with news of a near-perfect match.

"Nobody's ever been across that bridge," Andrews told CNN from his hospital bed Thursday, his voice full of wonder. "That is cool!"

Andrews' journey began a year ago when end-stage kidney disease left him dependent on dialysis three days a week, six hours at a time. The grueling treatment made him so miserable he volunteered for an experimental genetically modified pig kidney transplant on January 25, 2025.

The difference was immediate. "I was clear. I was not what I call dialysis foggy," Andrews remembered. "All of a sudden, I had energy."

His pig kidney, which he named Wilma, worked beautifully for a record 271 days. When his body eventually rejected the organ last October, Andrews returned to dialysis and feared he wouldn't survive much longer.

But Wilma had done her job. She kept Andrews healthy enough to make it to his human kidney transplant, turning the experimental procedure into exactly what researchers hoped it would be: a bridge to survival.

More than 100,000 Americans are waiting for organs right now, with 80% needing kidneys. Only the sickest patients even make the waitlist. Meanwhile, nearly 70% of the 800,000 people with kidney failure rely on dialysis, which has a five-year survival rate around 40%.

Dr. Leonardo Riella, Andrews' doctor and medical director of kidney transplantation at Mass General Brigham, sees xenotransplantation changing this reality. "Even if it is a bridge, it would be better than just staying on dialysis," he said.

The Ripple Effect spreads far beyond one patient. Every test, every biopsy, every challenge Andrews faced helps scientists understand how to make the next xenotransplant better. His experience helped researchers identify what caused the rejection, allowing them to adjust treatment protocols for future patients.

Since Andrews' first surgery, Mass General and eGenesis have performed two more pig kidney transplants and are preparing to launch clinical trials. Each procedure builds on lessons learned from Andrews' pioneering journey.

Andrews expected to head home to New Hampshire on Friday, taking just a third of the immunosuppressant medication he needed with his pig kidney. His new human kidney is working perfectly.

For Andrews, the experimental transplant was never just about his own survival. "This will do something for humanity," he said, and now thousands of patients waiting in dialysis centers have new reason to hope.