World’s first organ donor dies at 79

On December 23, 1954, Dr. Joseph Murray performed the world’s first kidney transplant removing a kidney from Ronald Herrick and implanting it in his identical twin Richard. Years later, Murray shared a Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking work. For the Herrick twins, the results were more immediate and personal. Richard lived for about eight more years because of Ronald’s donation.

Mr. Ronald Herrick, who suffered from heart ailments died this Monday in the Augusta Rehabilitation Center in Augusta, Maine, where he was recuperating from heart surgery in October. He was 79 and lived in Belgrade, Maine. In an autobiography, Murray recalled those moments when it seemed that the transplant team held its breath.

Before the operation, many people opposed the idea of transplanting a body organ and Ronald’s donation laid a precedent to organ transplants. The operation proved that transplants were possible and led to thousands of other successful kidney transplants and ultimately the transplant of other organs.

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Written by

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Dr. Ananya Mandal is a doctor by profession, lecturer by vocation and a medical writer by passion. She specialized in Clinical Pharmacology after her bachelor's (MBBS). For her, health communication is not just writing complicated reviews for professionals but making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public as well.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Mandal, Ananya. (2020, April 03). World’s first organ donor dies at 79. News-Medical. Retrieved on November 25, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/news/20101230/Worlds-first-organ-donor-dies-at-79.aspx.

  • MLA

    Mandal, Ananya. "World’s first organ donor dies at 79". News-Medical. 25 November 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/news/20101230/Worlds-first-organ-donor-dies-at-79.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Mandal, Ananya. "World’s first organ donor dies at 79". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20101230/Worlds-first-organ-donor-dies-at-79.aspx. (accessed November 25, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Mandal, Ananya. 2020. World’s first organ donor dies at 79. News-Medical, viewed 25 November 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/news/20101230/Worlds-first-organ-donor-dies-at-79.aspx.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
Coronary artery calcium scores found to predict risk of heart attack and death in both men and women