Raiders’ Derek Carr returns to Valley Children’s Hospital. ‘I’ll do whatever I can to help’
Valley Children’s Healthcare unveiled its renovated hospital playground Friday with the help of Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr who donated to the project and took part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Carr has kept Valley Children’s close to his heart since 2013 when his first son, Dallas, needed three surgeries because of an intestinal complication and stayed in the Valley Children’s Hospital neonatal intensive care unit for more than three weeks.
But Friday was his first appearance at the hospital in Madera County just north of Fresno since 2019 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
He donated $75,000 to help rebuild the playground on the hospital’s south lawn.
“All the time people tell my brother (David), tell myself, thank you for what you do for the hospital,” Carr said. “I was thinking about this the other day and I was like, ‘You have no idea what you have done for me.’ Every morning when I wake up and I see Dallas, 8 years old. ...
“I don’t ever take it for granted what the team did here to help save my son’s life.”
Carr was joined by Valley Children’s President & CEO Todd Suntrapak, Chief Nursing & Transformation Officer Beverly Hayden-Pugh and Guilds Coordinating Council Chair Connie McClaskey.
“I tell you all every time, the way you treated my son is awesome, but the way you treated my wife was even better,” Carr said. “You always gave her hope. You always let her know that we’re going to do the best that we can. You’re in the right place. Those words mean something. I still feel those things still to this day.”
Carr said he “remembers every second when we were in this hospital.” He said his wife, Heather, didn’t leave the hospital for 23 days so she could be with Dallas. Carr was on the eve of his final season at Fresno State.
Almost nine years later, his oldest is healthy and precocious, Carr said. “Last night, don’t tell anybody, but he was helping me drive the RV from Vegas. You got to learn at some point.”
“You guys literally saved Dallas’ life,” Carr told the staff. “Forever, I’ll do whatever I can to help, encourage and uplift another family.”
This story was originally published June 10, 2022 at 3:48 PM.
