In 1999, Towana Looney donated a kidney to save her mother’s life. Years later, complications from pregnancy caused her remaining kidney to fail.
Now, the 53-year-old Alabama resident has become the world’s only living person with an animal organ transplant, receiving a gene-edited pig kidney. The groundbreaking procedure was performed at New York’s NYU Langone hospital, which announced the successful transplant on Tuesday.
“I’m overjoyed and blessed to have received this gift, this second chance at life,” Looney shared during a press conference held three weeks after the surgery.
A Breakthrough in Xenotransplantation
Xenotransplantation—the transplantation of organs from one species to another—has been a long-standing scientific ambition. While early attempts with primates failed, advances in gene editing and immune system management have brought this dream closer to reality.
Pigs are now seen as ideal donors because they grow quickly, produce large litters, and are already part of the human food supply. Advocates of this approach hope it can address the critical organ shortage in the U.S., where over 100,000 people await transplants, including more than 90,000 in need of kidneys.
A Long Journey to Hope
Looney’s journey to this breakthrough was arduous. After her kidney failure in 2016, she endured eight years on dialysis. Preeclampsia during pregnancy had led to chronic kidney disease, and her high levels of harmful antibodies made finding a compatible human donor nearly impossible.
Despite being prioritized on transplant waiting lists, she faced constant disappointment as her health deteriorated. With limited options, she applied for a clinical trial for pig kidney transplants and underwent a seven-hour surgery on November 25.
Life After the Transplant
The results have been remarkable. Looney is thriving, experiencing a newfound energy and a return to normal kidney function. “I’m full of energy, I’ve got an appetite… and I can go to the bathroom! I haven’t been able to do that in eight years,” she joked, adding that she plans to celebrate her recovery with a trip to Disney World.
Dr. Jayme Locke, one of the surgeons on the transplant team, expressed amazement at the kidney’s performance. “It functioned exactly like a kidney from a living donor,” she said, noting that Looney’s husband remarked on the newfound rosiness in her cheeks—a visible sign of restored health.
“That is the miracle of transplantation,” Locke added.
Looney’s groundbreaking surgery not only marks a new chapter in her life but also offers hope to countless others awaiting transplants, paving the way for a future where organ shortages could become a thing of the past.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
