Wichita man with skin condition gets long-awaited transplant

(WICHITA, Kan.) — Kyle Hicks has waited for this day. “Three years, two months, four days and the transplant took 11 minutes,” says his grandmother, Marilyn McFadden.

11 minutes that could give Hicks a new chance at life.

“Our hope is it will help him heal his skin.”

Hicks is 20, but looks more like a little boy.

He has a rare skin disease called Epidermolysis Bullosa.

He’s lived a life with chronic sores and every day, endless hours wrapping his body in gauze.

But now, a bone marrow transplant at a Minnesota hospital could give him a chance to heal.

“In this blood is the protein that Kyle needs to repair his skin. It’s not an overnight process.”

Insurance agreed to pay for most of the procedure.  It costs more than a million dollars.  Donations will help offset other costs.

McFadden says Hicks will remain in the hospital for four to six weeks.