‘It was a blessing’: Grandfather receives life-saving liver donation from granddaughter

POWHATAN, Va. (WWBT/Gray News) - A Virginia grandfather received a life-saving donation from a family member: his granddaughter.

Brian Walls was diagnosed with NASH, a form of liver disease, and needed a liver transplant more than two years ago.

“I started getting ill,” Walls said. “No one could really figure out, the doctors couldn’t really figure out what was going on with me.”

He said he got on the list for a transplant, but nothing ever came of it.

Last December, Walls’ health quickly went downhill while he fought for his life in the hospital. Little did Walls know a donor was on standby, ready to save his life.

The perfect match turned out to be his 25-year-old granddaughter, Makaela Hayes.

“It was a blessing, a miracle, something that no one could’ve ever expected,” she said.

Hayes donated a portion of her liver to her grandfather, which turned out to be a Christmas miracle.

“It was just an instant change in my life,” Walls said. “God’s blessed me and the family that has looked out for me.”

The outcome meant everything to Hayes, coming one year after a heartbreaking loss for the family.

“One year before the surgery was when my, not stepdad, but second dad, passed away from cancer,” Hayes said. “It means more than just saving someone’s life.”

As Walls recovers, he encourages everyone to see whether they could be a living donor to give the gift of life.

“You never know when someone is in need and can’t get a transplant, either liver, kidney, or whatever the case may be,” he said.