By Molly Goddard
12:59pm PST, Jan 27, 2025
One woman hit a scientific and personal milestone.
On Saturday, January 25, Towana Looney, 53, became the longest-living human to undergo a pig organ transplant 61 days after the operation.
Join us to see how the Alabama resident is doing after overcoming the major health hurdle…
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On Saturday, January 25, Towana Looney, 53, became the longest-living human to undergo a pig organ transplant 61 days after the operation.
Join us to see how the Alabama resident is doing after overcoming the major health hurdle…
MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more fun celebrity & entertainment photo galleries and content
"I'm superwoman," Looney told the Associated Press about how she's feeling. "It's a new take on life."
The achievement is extremely significant as nobody out of the five patients to be given a gene-edited pig organ since 2022 has survived after two months.
The achievement is extremely significant as nobody out of the five patients to be given a gene-edited pig organ since 2022 has survived after two months.
Dr. Robert Montgomery of NYU Langone Health, who conducted the transplant, could not be more thrilled with Looney's progress. "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 explained.
"We're quite optimistic that this is going to continue to work and work well for, you know, a significant period of time," the medical expert noted while pointing out how her kidney function is "absolutely normal."
"We're quite optimistic that this is going to continue to work and work well for, you know, a significant period of time," the medical expert noted while pointing out how her kidney function is "absolutely normal."
Looney needed a transplant after going through kidney failure due to pregnancy complications. Decades prior, she donated one of her kidneys to her mother. Unfortunately, her remaining organ ended up being damaged.
Over the years, she's developed a high level of antibodies, leading to her likely rejecting other human organs.
Over the years, she's developed a high level of antibodies, leading to her likely rejecting other human organs.
"It's like a new beginning," she gushed after the procedure. "The energy I had was amazing. To have a working kidney — and to feel it — is unbelievable."
Despite the surgery being unbelievably risky, Looney is feeling grateful she took the chance. "You don't know if it's going to work or not until you try," she explained.
Despite the surgery being unbelievably risky, Looney is feeling grateful she took the chance. "You don't know if it's going to work or not until you try," she explained.
Per the outlet, due to a shortage of organ donations, scientists have been "genetically altering pigs so their organs are more human-like."
More than 100,000 people are on the U.S. transplant list and 5,600 Americans pass away each year as they wait for a human organ to become available.
More than 100,000 people are on the U.S. transplant list and 5,600 Americans pass away each year as they wait for a human organ to become available.