Percussionist Nolan receives life-saving transplant at Le Bonheur

Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital is the first and only comprehensive pediatric medical center in Memphis and its surrounding region.

Each year, more than a quarter of a million children receive outstanding health care from more than 700 pediatric specialists.

In this Go Jim Go patient profile, WREG’s Alex Coleman takes us to Atoka, Tennessee to meet Nolan Malone and his family as he shows how donations saved his and other kids’ lives.

The Munford High School Band is known nationwide for its high energy and precision. Of course, this almost flawless perfection comes from a lot of practice.

So, it’s probably no surprise cell phone video shows one of its members and percussionists Nolan Malone practicing on his snare drum even when he was in the hospital.

When you first meet Nolan at home, you can tell this 17-year-old percussionist is a pretty special kid who’s also modest.

“I’m really just a normal person, energetic,” Nolan said. “I love being around people and I’m very spiritual. I’ve been dealing with God all my life.”

Nolan’s God-centered life and his health suddenly changed in February of this year while visiting his grandmother.

“My appetite wasn’t that good. I was having a headache,” Nolan said. “Like, my head was hurting, my chest was hurting and I couldn’t really breathe.”

It was scary for Nolan and his parents Marshaire and Drovandi Buford.

His mom remembers when she took him to be checked out at Le Bonheur Pediatrics Associates.

“So on the 19th (of February), when I took him to his pediatrician, Doctor Juanita Norman, his eyes were jaundiced. They were yellow.”

Almost right away, Nolan’s pediatrician insisted he go to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis.

In the emergency department, a team of specialists discovered Nolan’s amino levels were increasing.

He was dehydrated, running a fever and had jaundice. He was quickly moved to the Intensive Care Unit for treatment.

A day later, on February 20, the Bufords got news that no parent would ever want to hear.

“They couldn’t get his numbers down and that’s when they said he is in extreme liver failure. Not part of his liver, the whole liver,” Marshaire Buford said. “And if they did not remove his whole liver and get a transplant, then, you know, he wasn’t going to make it.”

In other words, if Nolan didn’t get a liver transplant, he would die.

“I was scared of everything,” Nolan said. “I honestly thought that it was my time and I was just real shaken up.”

His parents were shaken up too.

During this difficult time, they leaned heavily on their faith and their prayer warriors.

“Me and my husband had to take a moment to step away and just went to the restroom and I just lost it,” Marshaire Buford said. “But he (Nolan) was there and it was hard, very, very hard. I had my village – it was on a Sunday. So, of course, everybody after church (came) and visited.”

The visits from church members and friends apparently led to what the Bufords describe as a blessing.

They learned that Nolan had not only been placed on the transplant list but on that same day, a liver was found for him.

Days later, Nolan’s surgery went well.

Back in his hospital room, the walls were covered with well wishes from his school and friends.

However, life after surgery would be a major adjustment for Nolan.

“After surgery, I couldn’t really walk,” Nolan said. “I had to learn how to walk again.”

“He’s the most lovable, friendly, biggest, bubbly personality and having to, you know, start completely over,” Marshaire Buford said. “You have to wear a mask, and during this time, he had to do homebound by the end of the school year.”

Now that he’s home, Nolan told WREG that he wants to rejoin the Munford High School Band when he’s completely healthy.

“They (the school) were like, ‘According to my liver, they didn’t want to risk it,” Nolan said. “So, they offered me another position to play.”

But for now, Nolan has picked up his sticks again and is tapping and striking his snare drum.

And that’s all because Le Bonheur was able to save his life.

“(I’m) very, very thankful,” Marshaire Buford said. “Le Bonheur, I don’t think enough people know about Le Bonheur.”

Now, Nolan has hope that he’ll one day be back with the Munford High School marching to the beat of his drums.

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