Second Pig Heart Transplant: Lawrence Faucette's Brave Journey

This one hit me hard. Just over a year after David Bennett's historic surgery, the University of Maryland Medical Center did it again — transplanting the world's second genetically modified pig heart into a human patient. Lawrence Faucette, a 58-year-old Navy veteran with end-stage heart failure, was ineligible for a traditional transplant. Let that sink in: a man who served his country couldn't get a heart through the normal system. So he volunteered for a procedure that had only been tried once before. That's not just courage — that's what happens when the system fails people.

Improvements from the First Case

The medical team applied crucial lessons from David Bennett's case in January 2022. Most significantly, the pig used for Faucette's heart was rigorously screened for porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) — the virus detected in Bennett's post-mortem that may have contributed to his death. The genetically modified pig, provided by Revivicor, had the same 10 gene edits as before, but with enhanced viral screening protocols.

"My only real hope left is the pig heart transplant, and I'm willing to take that chance to be at the forefront of this." — Lawrence Faucette, before surgery

The Outcome

Faucette survived approximately six weeks after the transplant, passing away on October 30, 2023. While the outcome was ultimately fatal, the medical team gathered invaluable data about the immune response, the performance of the modified pig heart, and the effectiveness of the improved screening and immunosuppression protocols. Each case brings researchers closer to making xenotransplantation viable.

Advancing the Science

Both pig heart transplant cases have generated an enormous amount of scientific data that is accelerating the field. Researchers now have a much better understanding of how the human immune system responds to genetically modified pig organs, which drugs are most effective at preventing rejection, and which viral risks need to be addressed. Multiple biotech companies, including eGenesis and Revivicor, are investing heavily in next-generation xenotransplant research. The science is moving fast — but not fast enough for the 17 people who die waiting every single day.

"Every patient who volunteers for these pioneering procedures is a hero. Their sacrifice advances science that will eventually save thousands of lives." — Dr. Muhammad Mohiuddin, University of Maryland xenotransplantation program

The Bigger Picture

Here's what I keep telling people: we at YCOD hold two things at once. We cheer for the scientists pushing xenotransplantation forward. And we fight — hard, right now — for the policy changes that can save lives today. Changing the default saves lives. Opt-out organ donation through Bill A07954 could immediately reduce the waitlist while research continues toward a future where organ shortages are history. I couldn't stay on the sidelines waiting for pig hearts to become routine when a policy fix is right in front of us.