Here's a rewritten version of the content that is plagiarism-free and unique:
A landmark achievement was reached when a 62-year-old man became the first recipient of a genetically modified kidney transplant from a pig at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Following the groundbreaking surgery, the patient was discharged from the hospital two weeks later.
While previous attempts at organ transplants from genetically modified pigs had failed, this procedure's success has been heralded as a historic milestone in transplantation by scientists.
The news was announced in a press release by MGH, Harvard Medical School's largest teaching hospital in Boston.
The recipient, Richard "Rick" Slayman from Weymouth, Massachusetts, had been battling end-stage kidney disease and required a transplant.
During a four-hour surgery on March 16, doctors successfully transplanted a genetically edited pig kidney into his body.
According to MGH, Mr. Slayman's new kidney is functioning well, and he no longer requires dialysis. In a statement, Mr. Slayman expressed his joy at being able to leave the hospital and return home, describing it as "one of the happiest moments" of his life.
"In 2018, I received a human kidney transplant from a deceased donor, but it began to fail last year. When doctors suggested a pig kidney transplant, I saw it not only as a way to help me but also as a way to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive," he said.
The pig kidney Mr. Slayman received had been modified by the Cambridge-based pharmaceutical company eGenesis to remove harmful pig genes and add certain human genes to improve its compatibility with humans.
The procedure was approved by the Food and Drug Administration under a single Expanded Access Protocol, also known as compassionate use, which grants patients with life-threatening illnesses access to experimental treatments.
Dr. Winfred Williams, Mr. Slayman's doctor at MGH, called the transplant a historic step that could potentially address the world's organ shortage, especially for ethnic minority communities disproportionately affected by the shortage.
According to data from the US non-profit United Network for Organ Sharing, more than 100,000 Americans are in need of a lifesaving organ transplant.
However, in 2023, the number of donors - both deceased and living - was just under 23,500.
It is estimated that 17 eople die each day in the US while waiting for an organ transplant, with kidneys being the most commonly needed organ.
While this is the first pig kidney to be transplanted into a human, it is not the first pig organ to be used in a transplant procedure.
In one case, there were signs that the patient's immune system had rejected the organ, which is a common risk in transplants.