Grandfather receives life-saving liver donation from his granddaughter in Virginia

A 25-year-old granddaughter, Makaela Hayes, donated a portion of her liver to her grandfather, Brian Walls, who had been awaiting a transplant for NASH; the operation took place on Dec. 23, 2025.

Brian Walls of Powhatan, Virginia, received a partial liver transplant from his 25-year-old granddaughter, Makaela Hayes. Walls had been diagnosed with NASH more than two years earlier and had been on the transplant list for a couple of years. He was admitted to the hospital in extremely serious condition before the living-donor match was identified. Hayes donated a portion of her liver on Dec. 23, 2025, and described finding the match as "a miracle". Key facts: - The recipient is Brian Walls, a resident of Powhatan, Virginia. - The donor is his 25-year-old granddaughter, Makaela Hayes. - Walls had been diagnosed with NASH and had been on a transplant list for several years. - The donation surgery occurred on Dec. 23, 2025, with Hayes giving a portion of her liver. - The Cleveland Clinic is cited as noting that the liver can regenerate and that a donated portion can grow to full size within weeks. Summary: Walls said the transplant brought an "instant change" in his life and Hayes called the match a blessing. Medical sources note that the liver is capable of regeneration and that a donated portion can grow to full size over weeks. Undetermined at this time.