University of North Carolina Athletics
Annual Burn Center Visit Is A Highlight For Heels
November 12, 2016 | Carolina Outreach
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Each fall, North Carolina student-athletes gather for a special trip that always proves to be a highlight of the Carolina Outreach calendar. The annual Touchstone Energy UNC Burn Center visit on Nov. 4 brought together Tar Heels from the Carolina football, cross country, gymnastics, women's soccer, women's basketball, and women's lacrosse teams to visit with patients and hear from physicians at one of the country's largest burn care centers.
Thirty student-athletes went from room to room in an effort to provide encouragement and fun to patients, some of whom have been in the hospital for extended periods of time, and their families. The floor was filled with smiles, laughter, and, of course, some good ole Tar Heel cheers, including a full rendition of “Hark the Sound” by the student-athletes and a proud group of UNC nursing alumni.
The benefit of visiting the center is two-way. Carolina Senior Associate Athletic Director Rick Steinbacher calls the hospital staff and patients “an inspiration in how they handle adversity with a positive spirit and collaborative teamwork.”
Said women's lacrosse senior Katie Kinsey, who returned after her first visit last year, “There is something about each visit that I can't quite put into words, but it is an extraordinary place where every single person is invested. Every patient, nurse, and doctor that I met exuded a unique passion for what they do. Experiences like this are what make me extremely grateful for my opportunities through Carolina Athletics.”
Known as one of the top comprehensive burn centers in the world, the 36-bed facility is one of the few in the nation that is American Burn Center Association verified for adult and pediatric care. Since its opening in 1981, the center has saved hundreds of lives and restored thousands of children and adults back to health and productivity. The center also has helped to advance knowledge of burn care and rehabilitation, making impact on burn treatment and prevention across the state through education and outreach programs.
“From the field to the patients' rooms, we are a family and we all acknowledge the importance of fighting,” Kinsey said. “Whether it's fighting for a victory or fighting for a life, the strength is seen in the process, not necessarily the outcome. Today, being able to see some of the process that these patients undergo is an irreplaceable experience that I will never forget. Each conversation and smile that was shared will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
For more information on the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center, click here.
Story by Erin Hegarty, UNC Student-Athlete Development
