March 13, 2015 (Hickory, NC) ─ Flowers, candy and jewelry – those are the traditional gifts couples exchange. This year, Alexis Hilton, a Physician’s Assistant with Extended Care Physicians, gave her husband Steve the gift of health. She donated her kidney to him on January 13. Just a little over two weeks later, Hilton, 33, returned to work providing geriatric nursing care in four senior living communities in Hickory including Hickory Village, a DePaul Senior Living Community.

Hilton is pictured here with Hickory Village staff Laundry Assistant Elizabeth Wilson, Supervisor Lisa Nixon, Medications Tech. Quadria Sanders, Dietary Cook Barbara Phillips, Certified Nursing Assistant Jessica White, Maintenance Director J.P. Wrigley and Certified Nursing Assistants Audrey Cook and Tabatha Helton.

“She is such a caring individual and our residents are so blessed to have her as their health care provider,” said Hickory Village Activities Director Anna Wilson.

The staff at Hickory Village welcomed her back with a party including a cake in the shape of a kidney. With March being National Kidney Month and National Donate Life Month in April, Hilton is hoping that sharing her own family’s experience will raise awareness about the possibility of being a living organ donor.

“I honestly didn’t even know you could do that,” she said. “I had never considered the possibility of donating an organ while living.”

Hilton and her husband Steve, 39 and an account manager at Aaron’s, have been married for five years and have a one-year-old daughter, Samantha, and two dogs. On January 13th, the couple entered the operating room side-by-side for the kidney transplant.

Alexis’ surgery took about four hours; Steve was in for about eight. She was discharged two days after surgery, with Steve getting out just one day later.

Alexis said she was not surprised the staff at Hickory Village planned a party in honor of her return.

“They’ve been so nice and supportive,” she said. “I have the card they gave me sitting on my nightstand with a picture of my cake, which I put on Facebook.”

Alexis said the experience has given the couple even more reasons to count their blessings.

“I tell him all the time how much I appreciate him and I talk about him all the time,” she said. “I know I gave him my kidney, but he’s the best husband ever. I think it’s really important that you tell people in your life you love them because you never know what will happen.”

For more information about Hickory Village, please contact Administrator Susan Blizzard at (828) 322-2230.