by Krista Hickey
Some stories remind us just how powerful kindness, community, and courage can be. This is one of those stories.
Paul Hickey, a longtime first responder with over 25 years of service, is now on a hopeful path to recovery—thanks to a lifesaving gift from someone incredibly close to our family: Kayla Redfern, the lower elementary school nurse at Cumberland Academy.
In March of 2020, while working during spring break, Paul suddenly began hemorrhaging and was rushed to the ER. He had lost nearly a third of his blood in just 20 minutes. Doctors discovered he had ruptured varices—swollen veins in his esophagus—caused by advanced liver disease. Paul was diagnosed with NASH, or Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, a serious form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease that had progressed to cirrhosis.
Unlike liver damage caused by alcohol, NASH develops silently from fat buildup and inflammation in the liver, often without early symptoms. It is now the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States, according to education provided by Baylor transplant nurses.
Over the next year, Paul endured procedures every three weeks to manage the bleeding and slow the disease. Despite his strength and determination, his liver continued to fail. In December 2024, he was officially approved for a living donor liver transplant.
After Paul was approved for a living donor liver transplant, our family was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support. Eleven people whom they know personally stepped forward to begin the process of being evaluated as potential donors. Incredibly, after hearing Paul’s story online or through mutual friends, several people the family had never met applied to be donors as well. Our family was deeply moved by the kindness of both friends and strangers and their willingness to offer such a life-changing gift.
One of those donors was Kayla Redfern, a close friend and colleague of mine. Kayla and I both serve as school nurses in the Cumberland Academy district. Kayla is at the lower elementary campus, and I am at the high school campus. Our friendship began in 2014 when Kayla first met our family as our oldest daughter, Morgan, started kindergarten. Since then, our bond has only deepened.
Kayla was the first person to complete the full evaluation process to be considered as a living liver donor for Paul. During spring break in March 2025, she spent three days at Baylor Hospital in Dallas undergoing the required testing and was officially confirmed as a match. The transplant surgery took place on June 9, 2025.
Following the procedure, both Kayla and Paul experienced some postoperative complications, but we’re happy to share that they are now out of the hospital and recovering well. As required by the transplant team, both stayed nearby in an Airbnb close to Baylor. Kayla remained in Dallas for nearly a month after surgery, while Paul stayed 6 weeks as part of his posttransplant recovery plan.
Paul and I have two daughters, Morgan and Lauren, who both attend Cumberland Academy. The school and local community have shown incredible support every step of the way—from Paul’s initial diagnosis to the transplant and now during recovery.
In a touching show of unity, the Cumberland Academy Senior Class of 2025 chose a giveback project in Paul’s honor and organized a blood drive. With 49 units collected, they shattered the school’s previous donation record—an extraordinary tribute from the students.
A GoFundMe has also been set up to help our family cover medical and travel expenses during the extended stay in Dallas.
Paul and I, along with our girls, are beyond grateful to Kayla, to the medical team, to every donor who stepped forward, and to the countless family members, our church family, friends, and strangers who offered support in our time of need.
Kayla’s gift was more than just a transplant—it was an act of deep friendship, courage, and generosity. Her decision gave Paul a second chance at life and gave the entire community a shining example of what it means to truly care for one another.
As they continue to recover, Paul and Kayla hope to use their story to raise awareness about the lifesaving power of living organ donation. Many people are unaware that the liver is a unique organ—it has the ability to regenerate. That means a healthy person can donate a portion of their liver to someone in need, and both the donor’s and recipient’s livers will grow back to full function over time. It’s a powerful option that can save lives. Paul and Kayla want others to know that this kind of hope and healing is possible.