Alabama Woman Sets Record as the Longest-Living Recipient of a Pig Organ Transplant

An Alabama woman has made medical history by becoming the only living recipient of a pig organ transplant to reach a remarkable 61-day milestone. This achievement sets her apart as the longest-living individual with a functioning pig organ.

Towana Looney, 53, celebrated this significant moment on Saturday, showcasing her vitality and strength as she continues to thrive. “I’m superwoman,” Looney remarked, reflecting on her unique journey and newfound lease on life.

Progress in Experimental Transplants

Looney is one of only four Americans who have undergone experimental transplants involving gene-edited pig organs. While two individuals received hearts and the other two received kidneys, none previously surpassed the two-month mark.

Dr. Robert Montgomery of NYU Langone Health, who led Looney’s transplant, expressed his astonishment at her well-being. “If you saw her on the street, you would have no idea that she’s the only person in the world walking around with a pig organ inside them that’s functioning,” he said.

Health Status and Future Plans

Dr. Montgomery confirmed that Looney’s kidney function remains “absolutely normal.” Currently, she is temporarily residing in New York for post-transplant evaluations but anticipates returning to her home in Gadsden, Alabama, within the next month.

“We’re quite optimistic that this is going to continue to work well for a significant period of time,” he added, highlighting the potential of this groundbreaking procedure.

The Need for Organ Transplants

As the nation faces an acute shortage of human organs for transplant, scientists are making strides in genetically modifying pigs to make their organs more compatible for human use. Over 100,000 individuals in the U.S. are on the organ transplant waiting list, with kidney transplants being the most sought after. Thousands die each year while waiting for suitable donor organs.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits pig organ transplants in specific, dire circumstances, primarily for individuals who have exhausted all other treatment alternatives.

Valuable Insights for Future Research

Dr. Tatsuo Kawai of Massachusetts General Hospital, who performed the world’s first successful pig kidney transplant last year, remarked on the significance of Looney’s experience. He indicated that her situation offers invaluable insights into the potential for future transplants.

Looney previously donated a kidney to her mother in 1999. Unfortunately, complications from pregnancy led to high blood pressure that damaged her remaining kidney, leading to its eventual failure—a rare outcome among living donors. After spending eight years on dialysis, she sought alternative solutions, which ultimately led to her groundbreaking pig organ transplant.

Monitoring Recovery and Future Outlook

Since her surgery on November 25, Montgomery’s team has diligently monitored Looney’s recovery through blood tests and other assessments. Approximately three weeks post-surgery, early indications of organ rejection emerged. Fortunately, due to prior research conducted this year, the team was well-prepared to identify these signs early.

Montgomery’s proactive approach has resulted in no further signs of rejection, which adds to the optimism surrounding Looney’s future. However, it is difficult to predict the longevity of her new kidney, and if it fails, she may go back to dialysis.

“The truth is we don’t really know what the next hurdles are because this is the first time we’ve gotten this far,” Montgomery acknowledged. “We’ll have to continue to really keep a close eye on her.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.