Anderson received third-degree burns to over 50 percent of his body as well as heat-induced injuries to his lungs. He was immediately rushed to the N.C. Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Hospitals.
Now, five years later, he and his family are hosting their annual benefit concert, “Healin’ with a Feelin’ – A Night of Burnin’ Love,” at Cat’s Cradle Saturday.
Anderson had the idea in 2010. During his four-and-a-half month treatment, Anderson said he realized how fortunate he was.
“(My wife Stephanie and I) had health insurance, and we noticed that other people didn’t,” he said. “We realized that a lot of those people didn’t have the resources while they were in the hospital, so they certainly didn’t have them when they were out.”
A suggested donation of $15 at the door from each audience member and money from a silent auction before the show goes directly to the burn center; other donations made to the UNC Medical Foundation can also contribute to the burn center’s cause.
Anita Fields, Jaycee Burn Center outpatient care manager, helps decide what the donations are spent on. She said that because aftercare is particularly important to Anderson, a lot of the money from the benefit goes to products like sun hats and sunscreen for survivors.
“Aftercare isn’t just what survivors get when they leave the hospital; it also focuses on the emotional and psychosocial elements of a burn injury,” she said. “It’s a traumatic thing that happens to the whole family, not just the patient.”
Fields also said that aftercare is not something provided by the hospital, so donations received from events like the benefit concert are significantly helpful.
