Northeast
Massachusetts man dies 2 months after becoming first person to receive successful pig kidney transplant
A Massachusetts man has died nearly two months after he made history as the first recipient of a genetically modified pig kidney transplant, his family and the hospital that performed the procedure announced Saturday.
Richard Slayman, 62, had the transplant at Massachusetts General Hospital in March, when surgeons predicted the pig kidney would last for at least two years.
The transplant team at the hospital said in a statement it was deeply saddened by Slayman’s death and offered condolences to his family. The hospital said there was no indication he died because of the transplant.
Slayman was the first living person to undergo the procedure, but pig kidneys had previously been temporarily transplanted into brain-dead donors. Two men received heart transplants from pigs, but both died within months.
MASSACHUSETTS MAN, RECIPIENT OF FIRST SUCCESSFUL PIG KIDNEY TRANSPLANT, IS DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL
Richard Slayman (second from right) died nearly two months after he made history as the first recipient of a genetically modified pig kidney transplant. (Courtesy of Michelle Rose/Massachusetts General Hospital)
After having a kidney transplant at the hospital in 2018, Slayman had to go back on dialysis last year because it showed signs of failure. Then, after dialysis complications came up and required frequent procedures, his doctors suggested a pig kidney transplant.
Slayman’s family thanked his doctors for extending his life.
“Their enormous efforts leading the xenotransplant gave our family seven more weeks with Rick, and our memories made during that time will remain in our minds and hearts,” the family said in a statement.
The family said Slayman underwent the surgery, in part, to provide hope for the thousands of people who also require a transplant to live.
MASSACHUSETTS MAN RECEIVES SUCCESSFUL PIG KIDNEY TRANSPLANT: ‘UNCHARTED TERRITORY’
Richard Slayman with (left to right) Dr. Leo Riella, Medical Director of Kidney Transplantation, Dr. Nahel Elias, Interim Chief, Division of Transplant Surgery, his partner, Faren, and Dr. Tatsuo Kawai, Director, Legorreta Center for Clinical Transplant Tolerance (Courtesy of Michelle Rose/Massachusetts General Hospital)
“Rick accomplished that goal and his hope and optimism will endure forever,” the family said.
Xenotransplantation refers to healing human patients with cells, tissues or organs from animals. These attempts have long been unsuccessful because the human immune system immediately destroys foreign animal tissue. Recent attempts have included pigs that have been modified, so their organs more closely resemble those of a human.
More than 100,000 people are on the national waiting list for a transplant, with most of them being kidney patients. Thousands of people die every year before they receive a transplant.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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PENNSYLVANIA (WJAC) — Pennsylvania hunters can soon start planning for the upcoming season.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission says 2026-27 general hunting and trapping licenses will go on sale Monday, June 22nd.
The licenses will be valid from July 1st through June 30th of next year.
Hunters can purchase licenses online or at authorized license issuing agents across the state.
The Game Commission is encouraging hunters to verify their account and mailing information before purchasing — to avoid delays.
Antlerless deer licenses also will be available through the state’s licensing system.
(WJAR) — The Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families disclosed the fatality of an 18-year-old who was previously the subject of a near fatality notification on June 2.
According to the department, the 18-year-old died on Thursday and was involved with DCYF.
The Office of the Child Advocate was notified about the incident.
DCYF did not disclose additional information due to confidentiality laws.
The original incident that required the prior notification occurred on May 27, officials said.
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According to DCYF, Rhode Islanders are required by law to report known or suspected cases of child abuse or neglect within 24 hours of becoming aware of such cases and can do so by calling 1-800-742-4453.
ORWELL, Vt. (WCAX) – Bud Carpenter is about to take a trip down memory lane.
“Heading to Poultney,” Carpenter said.
The ride there is dotted with silos, with many of the barns he built. “This is one of our buildings here; there’s one over there,” Carpenter points out. And then there’s a building in Orwell.
“That post office over… we built that in the early 70s,” Carpenter said.
Reporter Joe Carroll: Have you figured out how many buildings you’ve built through the years?
Bud Carpenter: You know, I thought about that a lot; I really haven’t.
Bud Carpenter Incorporated, or BCI, started on a “wing and a prayer.” “I just started working, I’d do anything, I’d wash windows, I would paint. I’d even cut meat in the store,” he said. “My first year in business in 1965, I grossed $3,600… Somehow, we made it all work; I don’t know how.
With hard work came jobs and some mistakes. “I’ve done a lot of foolish things,” Carpenter said. “Like get into the used car business.”
Reporter Joe Carroll: How did you have the time to do all of this?
Bud Carpenter: I ask myself a hundred times.
There are massive cow barns to small horse barns, like one in Poultney. “We just did this one last year,” Carpenter said.
With a bum knee and a pacemaker, the 83-year-old no longer works on site.
“He’s a barn building legend!” said Todd Boutwell, Carpenter’s son-in-law, who took over running the day-to-day operations last year. “He’s still there, every day.”
“I like to come out to all of them, I’m on all of them, one time or another, yeah,” Carpenter said.
Back on the road, the conversation turns personal. “I think the hardest part is when I went through a divorce. I had problems with my wife, and we divorced, that’s probably the hardest thing I did,” Carpenter said. “And that’s having to go back on my word… When you get married, you take your vows.”
He has since remarried. Beth and Bud have been together for decades.
And then there was the heavy drinking. “I worked hard, and I drank hard,” Carpenter said. “But I never missed a day of work in my life.”
The drinking has been cut significantly. His recollections of what he’s done are numerous. “You get a little choked up at times on it, everywhere you go, you see things you’ve done: It makes you proud,” he said.
A journey that continues.
Copyright 2026 WCAX. All rights reserved.
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