Tim Andrews

Tim Andrews, a 66-year-old man suffering from end-stage kidney disease due to type 2 diabetes, is the subject of recent medical news due to a groundbreaking xenotransplantation. Facing a low probability of receiving a human kidney within five years and a significant risk of mortality, Andrews received a genetically modified pig kidney. This organ, from a pig named Wilma, has functioned successfully in his body for a record 271 days (nine months). This development is significant as it marks the longest period a transplanted pig kidney has worked in a human, demonstrating its potential as a 'bridge' to a human transplant. Andrews stated the transplant offered him "hope" and relieved him from the burden of regular dialysis treatments. The success of this procedure at Mass General Brigham hospital highlights advancements in organ transplantation and offers a potential solution for the critical shortage of human donor organs.