'Second chance': Woman successfully undergoes pig kidney transplant and leaves hospital shortly after

A woman from Alabama received a successful gene-edited pig kidney transplant at NYU Langone Health.

This was the seventh pig organ transplant completed by NYU Langone surgeons.

A few days after the procedure, miraculously, Towana Looney, 53, walked out of the hospital.

At an NYU Langone press conference, Looney expressed feeling "ecstatic" and "grateful for this opportunity – a second chance at life."

She stated that she wished to inspire bravery in individuals undergoing dialysis.

On Wednesday, Dr. Marc Siegel, a Planet Chronicle senior medical analyst and NYU Langone clinical professor of medicine, discussed the potential future of transplant medicine on "America Reports."

"Even if we manage to obtain donations, we will still face a significant shortage of body organs, so we must act."

"We can bio-engineer them or use them from other species, which is known as xenotransplant."

Looney's "incredible" journey, which began with her donating her own kidney to her mother 25 years ago, was commended by Siegel.

"She is looking for any other possibility, any other chance, at having a normal life again."

According to Siegel, Looney experienced a rare complication while pregnant that resulted in kidney failure.

Dr. Robert Montgomery, Director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, referred to Looney as a "hero" during a conversation with Siegel.

"She gave birth to her mother," he said. "She's someone who already paid a really significant price for an incredible act of generosity."

"She is searching for any alternative opportunity or chance to regain a normal life."

Montgomery stated that he believes Looney will revolutionize transplantation.

Siegel, who had a heart transplant after surviving 30 cardiac arrests, is knowledgeable about the struggle of waiting for a donated organ, as Montgomery himself experienced this challenge.

Montgomery stated that his realization during the experience of living through it was the need for another source of organs, as only "far less" than 1% of people who die annually are eligible to be organ donors.

He stated that the number of individuals who could benefit from an organ transplant is steadily growing.

According to Siegel, out of the seven pig organ transplants performed at NYU Langone, this one was successful as Looney was able to walk out of the hospital.

This is why the kidney was modified with 10 genetic changes, as explained by Montgomery to Siegel.

The doctor now emphasizes the importance of immunology to prevent Looney's immune system from rejecting the kidney.

Going forward, this will be a big deal when we get past the rejections, Siegel added.

"This is the future."

According to Siegel, out of the 100,000 people who require an organ transplant annually, 80,000 of them are specifically waiting for kidneys. However, this type of transplant could also encompass hearts and livers.

"This is the future," he said.

Bio-engineered organs are "much farther away" than xenotransplantation, which is "in front of us now," Montgomery stated.