Local Woman Remembered As Medical Pioneer

BERKELEY – A local woman is being mourned by her family, and also the world’s medical community because she was the recipient of a groundbreaking surgery earlier this year.

Lisa Pisano, 54, will be remembered by friends and family after her passing on June 7. Her obituary proclaims that her grandchildren were the light of her life, and she was committed to her loved ones. “She enjoyed going to the boardwalk, cooking, watching wrestling and cooking shows, couponing and shopping with her daughter, spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren.” The Navy veteran was a manager at Wawa for many years.

Unfortunately, she also had some medical issues. Her heart failure and end-stage kidney disease brought her before NYU Langone Health where she was the first person to receive a heart pump as well as a genetically engineered pig kidney transplant.

Because of her health conditions, she was not a candidate for routine transplants. The heart pump was surgically implanted on April 4, according to the hospital. On April 12, doctors transplanted a gene-edited pig kidney and thymus gland to aid against rejection.

“All I want is the opportunity to have a better life,” she said in a press release sent out after the procedure. “After I was ruled out for a human transplant, I learned I didn’t have a lot of time left. My doctors thought there may be a chance I could be approved to receive a gene-edited pig kidney, so I discussed it with my family and my husband. He has been by my side throughout this ordeal and wants me to be better.”

Dr. Robert Montgomery, who led the surgery, issued a statement after her passing.

“We are deeply saddened to announce that Lisa Pisano passed away on July 7. Despite her significant health challenges, Lisa’s bravery and altruistic nature led her to be the first woman to receive a genetically engineered pig kidney in April. She had also received a heart pump called a left ventricular assist device, or LVAD. Despite the LVAD, her care team was unable to wean her off the vasopressor medicines that were supporting her blood pressure, which was what caused the xenokidney’s failure and removal on May 29. Before she passed, the decision was made in partnership with her family to transition Lisa to hospice care.

“Lisa’s contributions to medicine, surgery, and xenotransplantation cannot be overstated. Her legacy as a pioneer will live on and she will forever be remembered for her courage and good nature. Her bravery gave hope to thousands of people living with end-stage kidney or heart failure who could soon benefit from an alternative supply of organs. Lisa helped bring us closer to realizing a future where someone does not have to die for another person to live. We extend our deepest condolences to Lisa’s family during this difficult time,” he said.

The hospital noted that approximately 104,000 people are on the waiting list for a transplant, with 89,360 of those waiting for a kidney. Nearly 808,000 people in the United States have end-stage kidney disease, but only about 27,000 were able to receive a transplant last year.

Pisano’s surgery was groundbreaking on several levels, including being the only known person to be on a mechanical heart pump receiving an organ transplant; the first woman to receive a gene-edited pig kidney, and the first with the thymus combined.

Pisano is survived by her husband Todd Pisano, her daughter Brittany Rydel and her husband Philip, her stepsons Robert Pisano, Sean Pisano, and Blaine Pisano, her brother Michael VanPelt, her grandchildren Olivia and Nathan Rydel, her cousins Sherry Abrams, Clayton Creamer, Dwayne Creamer, and Steven Hawk.

A memorial celebration will be held on Saturday, July 13 from 2-4 p.m. at Mastapeter Memorial Home, 270 Atlantic City Blvd., Bayville.