The 57-year-old patient that received a genetically-modified pig heart is doing fine, declared Dr. Bartley Griffith, the head of the team who performed the world’s first pig heart transplant, in an exclusive interview for Euronews Albania.

Dr. Griffith noted that the patient is still recovering but “grateful to be alive”.

“He bursts into tears and thanks me every time I see him”, he added.

He explained that the patient was randomly selected. David Bennett,  the 57-year-old with terminal heart disease, decided to go ahead with the surgery although there were no guarantees if he would make it or not.

“The heart pig transplant was the only chance, despite the dangers, that was no less than continuing with his medications. He took the risk and said that even if it doesn’t work, he would at least learn something.”

This is the first media appearance of Dr. Griffith since the successful surgery.