Tim Andrews, a 67-year-old from New Hampshire, faced a dire prognosis after two years of kidney failure, a complication of his diabetes. His life revolved around a dialysis machine, spending six hours a day, three days a week, filtering toxins from his bloodstream. This demanding routine led to intense fatigue, muscle wasting, and eventually a heart attack, leaving him convinced he was near death. Andrews' desperate search for alternative treatments led him to the burgeoning field of xenotransplantation.

His research introduced him to the case of Richard Slayman, a 62-year-old from Boston, who in 2024 received a genetically modified pig kidney at Massachusetts General Hospital to treat his end-stage kidney disease. While Slayman's procedure was initially successful, he passed away two months later from an unexpected cardiac event, which doctors determined was unrelated to the transplant itself. Despite this somber outcome, Andrews was intrigued, believing the procedure "might work." Given that xenotransplantation had only been performed a few times across the US, the medical team at Massachusetts General Hospital agreed to consider Andrews, contingent on him undergoing several months of physical therapy to strengthen his body and minimize the risk of the animal organ being quickly rejected.

On January 25, 2025, Andrews underwent a three-hour surgery to remove his diseased kidneys and receive a pig kidney, which he affectionately named "Wilma." He spent a week recovering in the hospital before being discharged with a regimen of 51 different medications, crucial for preventing his immune system from rejecting the new organ. Initially, he experienced a boost, which he attributed to the steroids. However, as the steroids were tapered off, challenges arose. While Wilma successfully kept him off dialysis, his condition gradually deteriorated over the following months. He began to urinate less and suffered flu-like symptoms, including fever, headaches, and nausea—all classic signs of organ rejection. After a record 271 days, Wilma was removed in October 2025. Andrews described the struggle, acknowledging a week prior that "she was done fighting."

Left without any kidneys, Andrews was forced back into the dialysis chair, joining the ranks of 90,000 Americans awaiting a human kidney. With only around 30,000 kidney transplants performed annually in the US, his prospects seemed bleak. He described his return to dialysis as a return to his previous state of debility, unable to walk, constantly sick, and craving sleep, which he found "tough on the body, tough on the mind." Believing he had only months left to live, as advanced kidney disease significantly shortens the life expectancy of those on dialysis without kidneys, Andrews, a father of two daughters, began to make peace with the inevitable.

However, a life-changing call arrived just before midnight on January 12, 2026, nearly a year after his experimental xenotransplantation: a human kidney, a near-perfect match, was available 87 miles away in Boston. Doctors at Mass General successfully implanted the kidney on a Wednesday morning. By Friday afternoon, Andrews was already on his way home to recover. This made him the first person in the world to receive a human kidney transplant after a xenotransplantation. A month into his recovery, he admitted there were "still bumps" but expressed optimism. His anti-rejection medication load has been reduced from 51 to 20 drugs, though he must now carefully monitor blood sugar spikes, a known side effect of immunosuppressants.

The history of xenotransplantation dates back to the early 20th century with failed attempts, such as inserting pieces of a rabbit's kidney into a child. The first significant success occurred in the 1960s when a chimpanzee kidney was successfully implanted into an adult, who lived with the organ for nine months. By the 1990s, researchers identified pigs as the optimal choice for these transplants due to their widespread availability and physiological similarities to humans, a shift from earlier primate-based attempts. Richard Slayman's 2024 procedure marked the first successful transplant of a genetically edited pig kidney. Andrews hopes that in a few years, xenotransplantation will become much more commonplace, serving as a vital bridge to further treatment for countless individuals in need of organs.

Andrews' new kidney came from an unidentified deceased donor. Overwhelmed with gratitude and emotion, he posted a heartfelt message on Facebook for the donor's family. He expressed his profound sorrow for their loss while declaring their family member a "hero" who not only saved his life but also offered hope to millions. Andrews vowed to cherish and care for the donated kidney for as long as he lives, dedicating his life to "preaching" about the transformative power of this selfless act of love. He eagerly anticipates living longer than he ever thought possible and passionately advocates for organ donation, urging others to become donors. Reflecting on his personal journey, he acknowledged the emotional complexity of receiving an organ from a deceased individual, stating, "It's tough, but I'm dealing with it."