Shriner Shares Unique Journey From Patient's Dad to Fraternity Noble

When Adam brought his 11-year-old son to his most recent appointment at Shriners Children’s, there was something different about the dad.

Adam was wearing a Mirza fez, less than a week after joining Shriners International. “I was really proud to walk into the hospital with my son while wearing the fez,” he said.

Although he didn’t formally start the petition process until recently, his journey to become a Shriner really began almost a decade ago after a tragic accident at their home.

Adam was cleaning up the yard and burning brush when Jeffrey knocked over the can of fuel.

The fumes from the gas can caught fire, burning Jeffrey – then just 2 years old – on nearly 50% of his body. Adam immediately grabbed his son and smothered the flames, burning his own hands in the process.

A neighbor called 911 and little Jeffrey was flown to a hospital in Kansas City, where he was then transferred to Shriners Children’s, a specialty pediatric burn hospital in Ohio.

Adam, who needed treatment for his own burns, spent the first 24 hours more than 600 miles away from his wife and son. “Of course I was worried about them,” he said. “But I was in no shape to get up there right away. I felt better knowing my wife was with him and I would get there as soon as I could.”