Shining Knight Gala Archives
Each year we celebrate one patient's remarkable story of survival and the team that made their recovery possible.
2024 Shining Knight Gala - Michael Merrigan's Story
One early morning in February 2023, Michael Merrigan survived a horrific car crash but was left fighting for his life. The VCU Health Trauma Team, from EMS on the site of the crash to providers within VCU Medical Center to personnel at Sheltering Arms Institute, along with the support of family and friends, worked together to help Michael rebuild his life and be able to enjoy it once again.
2024 Trauma Survivor "Giving Back" Story - Darrell Anderson
Darrell Anderson turned his experience of being shot five times into a way to help others as he worked on rebuilding his own life. Darrell provides hope and empathy to patients at VCU Medical Center through his work with the Bridging the Gap program.
2023 Shining Knight Gala - Natalie Rainer's Story
On a Saturday morning in August 2022, Natalie Rainer and her friend, Jonah Holland were struck by a vehicle while riding their bicycles. The VCU Health Trauma Team, along with the support of family and friends, have enabled Natalie to continue on, enjoying her life and honoring her friend Jonah's memory.
2023 Shining Knight Gala - Diana Eadie's Story
Diana Eadie shares her experience with losing a limb to help the newly-injured adjust and have hope as they enter a new and unexpected chapter in their lives.
2022 Immeasurable Impact: The Ripple Effect of Shining Knights
Shining Knights are what we call the people who come together to save a life. Those who work in the healthcare field work as part of a huge team that will save countless lives. Patients who recover from traumatic injuries in turn greatly impact the world through their actions and thus one Shining Knight's contribution to saving just one life, can be felt for years and across borders.
2021 Featured Patient Story - Bryan Sides
After nearly losing his life in a devastating car crash, Bryan was able to resume a normal life due to the care he received from his shining knights from first responders to surgeons, nurses and many others.
2021 Trauma Survivor "Giving Back" Story - Kristen Mallory
Kristen turned the health struggles she experiences as the result of a nearly fatal car crash with a drunk driver into opportunities to educate others and save countless lives in the process.
David Johnson and Carter Lewis, are firefighters with Hanover County Fire-EMS, who suffered severe injuries on Oct. 11, 2018 after a tractor-trailer struck their fire engine as they were responding to a vehicular crash on Interstate 295 in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Michael.
2019 Trauma Survivor "Giving Back" Story - Joyce and Richard Johnson
Joyce and Richard Johnson turned the trauma of Joyce's unexpected and life threatening injuries into a catalyst for celebration.
2018 Malina Richardson Story
With the support of family, friends and the VCU Health Trauma team Malina is now getting her life back.
Taylor Jones got support he never knew existed from the Richmond community after his near-fatal car crash. Now he's helping those who helped him.
Co-Chairs Brenda and Tyler Hancock share their traumatic experience and what the trauma center means to them.
The victim of a hit and run, jogger Denise Gorondy Toderico was thrown 50 yards from the road and lay seriously injured undiscovered for more than an hour.
2017 Trauma Survivor “Giving Back” Story
Richard Bagby shares his own spinal trauma experience to help the newly-injured adjust to the next chapter in their lives.
Nick Watkins and his family were grateful to be able to share his inspiring journey from injury to recovery after a devastating motorcycle crash.
2016 Trauma Survivor “Giving Back” Story
After recovering from his burn injuries, Kirk McClure realized he could share his story to inspire other burn victims.
More than five months after the car crash, Bette Wallerstein walked out the door and went home to her loving family
2015 Trauma Survivor “Giving Back” Story
Lisette Johnson works tirelessly to give back by providing a voice and resources to other domestic violence survivors.
2014 Trauma Survivor “Giving Back” Story
Cole Sydnor received the Trauma Survivor Giving Back Award for helping others avoid spinal cord injuries.
For Tony Carr, surviving the plane crash was one thing but recovering from his burn injuries was another.
After becoming a victim of gun violence Chris Baker is able to enjoy life with his family and considers himself blessed to have survived.
Originally injured in a motor vehicle crash, Greg Jones' trauma survival was his first step of the rest of his life.
Delta trauma patient Willie Christy wasn't expected to survive, but then he met his trauma team.