Nicole Thompson
At LewisGale Hospital Montgomery, compassion is at the heart of everything. But for Nicole Thompson, a palliative care nurse, that compassion extended far beyond her daily duties.
In an act of extraordinary generosity and faith, Thompson donated one of her kidneys to a man she barely knew but felt deeply called to help.
Pastor Barry Daniel of Alleghany County, Virginia had been in renal failure, spending four hours a day, three times a week on dialysis while continuing to travel and preach. He even posted about his struggle and hope for a living kidney donor on Facebook — a post seen by Thompson. “I remember pausing and thinking, hmm, should I? And then I thought, ah, somebody else will do it,” she admitted. “Little did I know then, the Lord was kind of working on me.”
In September 2023, Thompson heard Pastor Daniel speak during a revival service at her church. Seeing him preach while clearly struggling physically deeply moved her.
That moment would change both of their lives.
Soon after, Thompson began the donor screening process and learned she was a match.
The successful transplant took place at UVA Hospital on June 13, 2024. Recently, Thompson and Pastor Daniel reunited over lunch in Christiansburg, joined by the local television station WSLS and Thompson's proud supervisors, Beth Scott, and Chief Nursing Officer Devin LaPuasa.
“It was very exciting. People kept asking me, are you scared? And I can honestly say, I was never scared,” Thompson said. “We’re all made with a purpose. And I knew without a doubt that this was part of my purpose.”
“As a palliative nurse, everything I do in my job is focused on quality of life. And so, for me to be able to so directly impact Barry’s quality of life was just an amazing gift for me.”
For Pastor Daniel, the gift was nothing short of life changing. No longer on dialysis, he now enjoys a second chance at life — and a lasting friendship with Thompson. Their story was featured by WSLS 10 News during National Donate Life Month, a time that highlights the importance and life-saving impact of organ donation. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, more than 100,000 Americans are currently on the national transplant waiting list — and living donations offer the best outcomes.
Thompson's courage, compassion, and unwavering faith have inspired everyone at HCA and LewisGale Hospital Montgomery. She reminds us that the impact we make doesn’t end at the bedside — sometimes, it’s a gift of life itself.